Director Rob Reiner’s son booked on suspicion of murder in his parents’ deaths

The son of famed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, was arrested Sunday night for the murder of his parents after they were found dead in their Los Angeles home, police announced Monday.

In a news release, the Los Angeles Police Department said Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested and held on suspicion of murder without bail. He was arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m. Sunday night, a little less than six hours after police found his parents’ bodies. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell had told reporters earlier on Monday that Nick Reiner was being held on $4 million bail.

Nick Reiner has spoken out about his struggles with drug addiction and homelessness.

“I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas,” he told People magazine in 2016. “I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun.”

Nick co-wrote a 2015 film, “Being Charlie,” which his father directed, that was based on Nick’s experiences cycling in and out of rehab.

In a 2016 joint interview with his son, Rob Reiner said working on the film “definitely brought us closer together.”

A spokesperson for the Reiner family said in a statement on Sunday: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”

Politicians and celebrities paid tribute to Rob Reiner, the director behind iconic films such as “When Harry Met Sally …” and “The Princess Bride,” and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner — both of whom were also known for causes championed by the Democratic Party, both within California and nationally.

Actor Eric Idle, a longtime friend, said on X that Rob Reiner was “a lovely man” and said he spoke to him for over an hour this past weekend.

“I shall miss him. A clever, talented and very thoughtful man. So awful,” Idle added.

Mayor Karen Bass called the deaths “a devastating loss for our city and our country.”

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass added.

Gov. Gavin Newsom called Rob Reiner “the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love” and “a passionate advocate for children and for civil rights — from taking on Big Tobacco, fighting for marriage equality, to serving as a powerful voice in early education.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., memorialized Rob Reiner as “creative, funny, and beloved” and Michele as “his indispensable partner, intellectual resource, and loving wife.”

Former vice president, California senator and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris said Rob Reiner’s work “has impacted generations of Americans.”

In a social media post Monday morning, President Donald Trump baselessly alleged that Rob Reiner was killed because of his obsession with the president. Trump then boasted about his administration’s accomplishments.

His comments were quickly criticized by Republicans and Democrats alike.

Rob Reiner appeared on MS NOW’s predecessor, MSNBC, many times over the years. In his most recent appearance on the network, in October, Reiner characterized the Trump administration’s pressure on media as “beyond McCarthy-era-esque.”

“This is just the beginning, and people have to understand our democracy is being taken away from us,” he said.

Rob Reiner was the son of comedian Carl Reiner, who created “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” As an actor, Rob Reiner starred in “All in the Family” — a role that earned him two Emmy Awards for best supporting actor in a comedy. He then turned to directing, making a splash with “This Is Spinal Tap,” a mockumentary.

Some of Rob Reiner’s later films focused on politics, such as “LBJ,” his 2016 biopic focused on the rise of President Lyndon B. Johnson, and “Shock and Awe,” a 2017 drama about a group of reporters covering President George W. Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Rob and Michele Reiner met during the production of “When Harry Met Sally…” and married in 1989. A photographer and producer, Michele Reiner worked on several films Rob directed, according to her IMDB page — including “Shock and Awe” and the sequel to “Spinal Tap,” released this year. She also took the original photograph of Trump for the cover of his 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal,” Rob Reiner said.

Correction (Dec. 15, 2025, at 3:54 p.m.): An earlier version of this newsletter misstated whether charges have officially been brought against Nick Reiner.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.