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Rob Reiner's son, Nick Reiner, will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, which stunned their communities in Hollywood and in Democratic Party politics, where both were widely beloved.
Nick Reiner, 32, is a suspect in the deaths of actor and director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michelle Singer Reiner, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a news conference with Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
“Their loss is beyond tragic, and we will be committed to bringing their killer to justice,” Hochman said.
Prosecutors plan to file charges of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances of multiple homicides later Tuesday. They will also include a specific allegation that he used a dangerous weapon – a knife.
“This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones, but for our entire city,” McDonnell said. “We will continue to support the Reiner family and ensure that every step forward is taken with care, dignity and determination.”
Rob Reiner, a respected Hollywood director, was found dead along with his wife Michelle Reiner in their Los Angeles home. Their son Nick is in police custody in connection with their deaths. CBC's Griffin Jaeger looks at the 78-year-old director's legacy and his impact on the film industry.
The announcement came two days after the couple were found dead of stab wounds at their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Nick Rayner was arrested several hours later in the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California, about 4 miles from the crime scene.
Nick Rayner was expected to make his first appearance in court earlier Tuesday, but his lawyer Alan Jackson said he was not transported from jail to the courthouse for medical reasons and his appearance would not take place until Wednesday.
Jackson is a prominent lawyer who represented Harvey Weinstein in his trial in Los Angeles and Karen Reed in his trial in Massachusetts. He was a central figure in an HBO documentary about Reed's case.
An email sent by The Associated Press to Reiner's lawyer after the charges were announced was not immediately responded to, and Nick Reiner has not yet entered a plea.
Rob Reiner was an Emmy Award-winning sitcom star. All in the family who continued to make films, including When Harry Met Sally… And Princess Bride. He was an outspoken liberal activist for decades. Michelle Singer Reiner was a photographer, film producer, and 2SLGBTQ+ advocate. They were married for 36 years.
Representatives for Reiner's family did not respond to AP requests for comment.
Investigators believe Rob and Michelle Singer Reiner died from stab wounds, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official, who was briefed on the investigation, was unable to publicly discuss details and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Reaction to death
The murders were especially shocking given the family's warm comic heritage. Rob Reiner was the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, who died in 2020 at the age of 98.
Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar for her role in Rob Reiner's 1990 film. Adversitywas among those who paid tribute to the couple.
“I loved Rob,” Bates said in a statement. “He was a brilliant and kind man who made films of all genres to challenge himself as an artist. He also fought courageously for his political beliefs. He changed the course of my life. Michel was a gifted photographer.”
Former US President Bill Clinton called the couple “good, generous people who made everyone who knew them better.”
“Hillary and I are heartbroken by the tragic death of our friends Rob and Michelle Reiner,” Clinton said in a statement. “They have inspired and inspired millions with their work in film and television.”
Three months ago, Nick Reiner posed for a photo with his parents and siblings at the premiere of his father's film. Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues.
As a teenager, he spoke publicly about his struggles with addiction, cycling to and from treatment facilities, and bouts of homelessness. Rob and Nick Reiner explored—and seemingly improved—their relationship while making the 2016 film. Be Charlie.
Nick Reiner co-wrote the screenplay and Rob Reiner directed the film about the struggles of a drug-addicted son and a famous father. It was not autobiographical, but included several elements of their lives.
“It made us understand ourselves better than before,” Rob Reiner told the AP in 2016. “I told Nick while we were doing it, I said, 'You know, it doesn't matter, whatever happens to this thing, we've already won.'
Prolific Hollywood Legend
Rob Reiner has long been one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, and his work included some of the most memorable and endlessly watchable films of the 1980s and '90s, including This is Spinal Tap And A few good men.
He met Michelle Singer Reiner on the set of the film. When Harry Met Sally…and their meeting inspires the film's happy ending, with stars Billy Crystal – one of Reiner's closest friends for decades – and Meg Ryan ending up together on New Year's Eve.
The Reiners were ardent supporters of liberal causes and major donors to the Democratic Party.
US President Donald Trump on Monday blamed the murder of actor and director on Rob Reiner's outspoken opposition to the president, making a baseless claim in a social media post that seemed intent on condemning his opponents even in the face of tragedy.
