Reiners’ son booked for murder in the stabbings of director and his wife

The film director Rob Reiner speaks about a California ballot initiative to increase the tax on cigarettes to hapy pay for health and education programs to children in Los Angeles on Oct. 15, 1998. Investigators in Los Angeles continue to search for clues on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in the deaths of Reiner and his wife, the producer Michele Singer Reiner, as tributes poured in from Hollywood and across the nation. (Monica Almeida/The New York Times)

By MATT STEVENS, SHAWN HUBLER, NICOLE SPERLING and JILL COWAN

A son of celebrated Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner has been booked on suspicion of murder in the deaths of his parents, police said Monday.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that the son, Nick Reiner, 32, was “booked for murder” and was being held on $4 million bail. No additional information about criminal charges was immediately available.

Police said the couple were found dead in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. Two people who were briefed on the case but not authorized to speak publicly said the couple had been stabbed to death.

Rob Reiner, 78, was a popular sitcom actor before directing a slate of beloved films, including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “The Princess Bride.” He went on to become a force in California and national Democratic politics, championing same-sex marriage and other causes. Michele Reiner, 70, was a photographer and later a producer.

Nick Reiner had spoken over the years about his struggles with drug abuse and bouts of homelessness beginning with his teenage years. He worked with his father on a movie, “Being Charlie,” that was loosely inspired by his early life.

In part because of that history, police focused almost immediately on Nick Reiner, according to a person who was briefed by the authorities and spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not have the authority to speak publicly on the investigation. Booking records indicated that Reiner was arrested Sunday night by Los Angeles police and formally booked shortly after 5 a.m. Monday.

Here’s what else to know:

— Reiner’s work: Rob Reiner’s Hollywood career as an actor and director spanned decades, including an eight-year run on “All in the Family,” a 1970s sitcom. More recently, Reiner had cameos in television shows like “New Girl” and “The Bear.” Actor Sean Astin, speaking on behalf of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, called Reiner “one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television.”

— Michele Singer Reiner: A photographer and later a producer, Reiner inadvertently altered the course of movie history when Rob Reiner spotted her on the New York set of the romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally …” The pair later married, and their real-life love story influenced him to change the ending of his most famous movie. They had four children: Jake, Nick, Romy and Tracy.

— Democrats mourn: Democratic leaders including former President Barack Obama, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles said they were heartbroken by the loss of Reiner and his wife. Reiner will be remembered not only for his films and television but also “for his extraordinary contribution to humanity,” Newsom said.

— Trump’s attack: President Donald Trump seized on the killing of Reiner and his wife to attack them, indicating their deaths were a result of their criticism of the president. Trump’s attack brought immediate outrage, even from some fellow Republicans. There was no indication that the couple’s political beliefs were linked to their deaths.

— Brentwood’s identity: The Brentwood neighborhood has long felt like more of a small town unto itself than a part of the sprawl of Los Angeles. Its natural beauty and luxurious amenities make the area popular among movie stars, politicians and executives.