Rob Reiner’s Son Charged With Murder of Parents in Brentwood Stabbing

Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of acclaimed actor-director Rob Reiner, was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, a crime that has stunned Hollywood and Democratic political circles where the couple was widely admired.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges at a news conference alongside Police Chief Jim McDonnell. Prosecutors allege that Nick Reiner killed his father, 78, and his mother, Michele Singer Reiner, at their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood.

Along with the murder counts, prosecutors filed special circumstances alleging multiple murders and the use of a dangerous weapon, a knife—enhancements that could lead to a longer sentence. Hochman said his office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

“Their loss is beyond tragic, and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice,” Hochman said.

The couple was found dead Sunday with apparent stab wounds. Police said Nick Reiner was arrested several hours later in the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California, about 14 miles from the crime scene, and did not resist arrest. He is being held without bail.

Reiner was scheduled to make an initial court appearance Tuesday, but his attorney, Alan Jackson, said the hearing was postponed to Wednesday for medical reasons. Jackson is a prominent defense lawyer who has represented Harvey Weinstein in Los Angeles and Karen Read in Massachusetts.

Investigators believe both victims died from stab wounds, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Police have not disclosed a motive.

Rob Reiner was an Emmy-winning star of the sitcom All in the Family and went on to direct a string of iconic films including This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally…, The Princess Bride and A Few Good Men. He was also a longtime liberal activist. Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer, film producer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. The couple had been married for 36 years.

Tributes poured in from across the entertainment and political worlds. Actor Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar for her role in Reiner’s 1990 film Misery, called him “brilliant and kind,” adding that Michele Singer Reiner was “a gifted photographer.” Former President Bill Clinton described the couple as “good, generous people who made everyone who knew them better.”

Rob Reiner was the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, who died in 2020 at age 98.

Nick Reiner had spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction, including periods of homelessness and time in treatment facilities during his teen years. Father and son explored aspects of their relationship in the 2016 film Being Charlie, which Nick co-wrote and Rob Reiner directed. While not autobiographical, the film drew on elements of their lives.

Three months ago, Nick Reiner was photographed with his parents and siblings at the premiere of Rob Reiner’s film Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues.

President Donald Trump on Monday made an unsubstantiated claim on social media blaming Rob Reiner’s outspoken opposition to him for the killings. Authorities have provided no evidence to support that assertion.