NICK Reiner, son of acclaimed Hollywood director Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents, Los Angeles police confirmed.
CNN reported on Tuesday that the 32-year-old was taken into custody without bail after his sister discovered the couple deceased in their Brentwood home on Sunday.
According to police sources, Nick Reiner was observed arguing with his father at a holiday gathering at comedian Conan O’Brien’s residence the previous evening.
He is now considered “responsible” for their deaths, though the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has not yet filed formal charges. The case will be handed over to prosecutors tomorrow, who will determine whether to pursue specific criminal counts.
Rob Reiner, 78, whose illustrious career included directing iconic films such as “When Harry Met Sally,” “The Princess Bride” and “A Few Good Men,” leaves behind a legacy of generational filmmaking and social activism. His wife, Michele Singer Reiner, was a respected producer.
Nick Reiner has a long history of struggling with addiction, publicly acknowledging multiple stints in rehabilitation and periods of homelessness.
In a 2018 episode of the “Dopey” podcast, he described entering rehab for the first time at age 15 and recounted outbursts during his periods of substance abuse, including one incident in his parents’ guest house that led to property damage and a subsequent return to rehab.
“I got totally spun out on uppers, I think it was coke and something else, and I was up for days on end, and I started punching out different things in my guest house,” Reiner told the podcast hosts. “The incident ultimately led to me doing another stint at rehab.”
The tragedy has drawn unusual bipartisan criticism of a comment by former President Donald Trump, who suggested the deaths were linked to “Trump derangement syndrome.”
Several Republican lawmakers condemned the remark as inappropriate and disrespectful.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene remarked, “This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” while Rep.
Thomas Massie wrote, “Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered.” Senator John Kennedy added that national leaders should exhibit restraint and respect in such situations.
Nick Reiner was last photographed alongside his family at the Los Angeles premiere of his father’s comedy musical “Spinal Tap II” in September, appearing impassive in the family portrait.
Details of how the deaths occurred have not been released, and it is unclear whether Nick Reiner has retained legal counsel. - December 16, 2025
