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Hollywood couple found dead in Brentwood home
Acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, producer Michele Singer Reiner, were discovered dead in their Brentwood residence on Sunday, Los Angeles authorities confirmed. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested on suspicion of their murders.
Son arrested and held without bail
Nick Reiner was taken into custody on Sunday evening following the discovery of his parents' bodies. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell stated on Monday that Nick had been "booked for murder." He remains in custody with no bail set, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department records.
Police revealed in a statement that their investigation "further revealed" Nick Reiner "was responsible for their deaths." The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday for potential charges.
Cause of death and investigation details
The Reiners were found with multiple stab wounds, though officials have not officially released the cause of death. Their daughter, Romy Reiner, discovered the bodies in the family's Brentwood home, a wealthy neighborhood known for its celebrity residents.
No motive has been disclosed by authorities, despite speculation on social media. President Donald Trump suggested a link to "Trump Derangement Syndrome," a term he coined for critics, drawing bipartisan criticism. Law enforcement has not commented on these claims.
Family's struggles with addiction
The Reiners had openly discussed their son's long battle with substance abuse and addiction to hard drugs. In 2015, they collaborated on the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which depicted a teenager's struggle with addiction and recovery.
"We were so influenced by these people. They would tell us he's a liar, that he was trying to manipulate us. And we believed them."
Michele Singer Reiner, 2015 interview with the Los Angeles Times
Rob Reiner added in the same interview, "We listened to them when we should have been listening to our son." The film appeared to bring the family closer, with Nick later telling Variety that their relationship had grown during its production.
Rob Reiner's legacy and family life
Rob Reiner, 78, was renowned for directing iconic films such as This Is Spinal Tap and When Harry Met Sally. He married Michele Singer, a producer, on the set of When Harry Met Sally, and the couple had three children together: Jake, Nick, and Romy.
Reiner was previously married to filmmaker Penny Marshall, with whom he adopted a daughter, Tracy Reiner. In a 1998 BBC interview, he reflected on parenthood, stating that his experiences with his sons had reshaped his approach to raising children.
That same year, he championed a California initiative to fund prenatal and early childhood programs using cigarette tax revenue, aiming to reduce crime, teen pregnancy, and drug abuse.
