Legendary director-actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their home yesterday, by apparent homicide.
It is with a heavy heart that the All in the Family, The Wolf of Wall Street star/director, Rob Reiner and his wife, producer and photographer, Michele Singer Reiner, were both found dead in their Brentwood, California home, on December 14th. According to multiple sources, the couple were supposedly killed by a family member, but the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division is still investigating. Their bodies were first seen by their daughter Romy; both Rob and Michele died at the ages of 78 and 68.
PEOPLE spoke with the Los Angeles Fire Department, who responded to a call to provide medical aid around 3:30pm on Sunday. When the LAFD showed up, they found a man, 78, and a woman, 68, both deceased. A spokesperson for the Reiner family confirmed the deaths Sunday evening. “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” the family spokesperson said in a statement. “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Based on a source that cannot speak publicly, it was confirmed that there were no signs of forced entry into the home. The source also said that the Reiners had injuries consistent with being stabbed. In a late Sunday evening news conference, LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said detectives were working to secure a search warrant before beginning a “thorough” investigation. “At this time, the Los Angeles Police Department is not seeking anyone as a suspect or as a person of interest…and we will not be doing that until we conduct our investigation and move forward,” Hamilton said. He said many family members would be interviewed, but that “no one has been detained; no one is being questioned as a suspect.”
The Reiners had been married since 1989. Reiner became famous for his role as Mike, aka Meathead, on the 1970s sitcom, All In The Family. He then went on to direct iconic movies, such as This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and A Few Good Men. For the younger generation, they may recognize him in New Girl, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Princess Bride, and The Bear. Reiner was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1947. His father was legendary comedian Carl Reiner, and his mother was actress and singer Estelle Lebost.
Reiner was in the Hollywood limelight for many decades, making major TV appearances by the late 60s, with guest spots on That Girl, Batman, The Andy Griffith Show and The Partridge Family. He was even hired as a writer for The Smothers Brothers show, where he worked with a young Steve Martin. Apart from Rob Reiner’s acting successes, he also became an active voice for liberal causes. He co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which initiated the court challenge against California’s Prop 8, campaigned for higher taxes on cigarettes, and was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump—among other causes.
Plenty of California officials have already released their condolences, with some doing everything they can to help with the investigation. Councilmember Traci Park, whose Westside district includes Brentwood, said in a statement that the LAPD had increased patrols in the neighbourhood “out of an abundance of caution.” “As we continue to wait for more updates, I want to express my profound concern and sadness at the news coming out of Brentwood,” Park wrote in the statement. “We are in close contact with LAPD as the homicide unit continues their investigation.”
Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement that she was “heartbroken by the tragic loss of Rob and his wife, Michele.” Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom also passed on their sentiments, remembering Rob Reiner as a “renowned director, writer, and activist” and his wife as an “accomplished producer and photographer.” Billy Crystal and Larry David were also found mourning at the scene, as they have been longtime friends with Rob.
Rob and Michele Reiner are survived by their children: Jake, Nick, and Romy. Rob also has a daughter Tracy, from his first marriage to director/actor Penny Marshall.
