Shocking
Who is Nick Reiner? Actor's Troubled Son Primary Suspect in Double Homicide
Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead this morning in a suspected double homicide. Son Nick, who has struggled with addiction for years, is the prime suspect.
Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, is being questioned by police following the discovery of his parents’ bodies at their Los Angeles home on Sunday, December 14. While authorities have not formally announced an arrest, multiple sources speaking with family members told PEOPLE Magazine that Nick is believed to be responsible for their deaths.
Emergency responders were called to the residence around 3:30 p.m. for a reported medical aid situation. Upon arrival, Los Angeles Fire Department personnel found a man, 78, and a woman, 68, deceased. Sources later confirmed the victims were Rob Reiner, a towering figure in American film and television, and his wife Michele, whom he married in 1989.
Nick Reiner has previously spoken publicly about a long and difficult struggle with drug addiction that began in his early teens. In a 2016 interview with PEOPLE, he described cycling in and out of rehabilitation starting around age 15, followed by extended periods of homelessness in multiple states as his addiction escalated. He recounted sleeping outdoors for nights or weeks at a time, drifting increasingly far from his family.
That period of his life later informed the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which Nick co-wrote. At the time of that interview, he said he had been living back in Los Angeles for some time and was reconnecting with his family. “I’ve been home for a really long time,” he said then, adding that he had begun to acclimate again to being around them.
Rob Reiner was one of Hollywood’s most influential directors, with a career spanning decades. He first gained fame as an actor on All in the Family before directing films that became cultural touchstones, including This Is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally…, Misery, and A Few Good Men. He was the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner and actress Estelle Lebost.
Nick is one of three children Rob and Michele shared. Police say he is alive and cooperating with questioning as the investigation continues. No official cause of death or motive has yet been released, and authorities have cautioned that the case remains ongoing.