Actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Reiner, 68, were found dead at their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on December 14, 2025, according to authorities.
Police are investigating the case as an apparent double homicide.
Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was taken into custody and is being held on $4 million bail, jail records and law enforcement officials said.
What police have confirmed
Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the residence in the 200 block of Chadbourne Avenue shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time. Inside, first responders discovered a man and a woman who matched the victims’ ages. The Los Angeles Police Department said the Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the investigation.
A law enforcement official briefed on the case said investigators believe the Reiners suffered stab wounds. The official described the deaths as an apparent homicide.
Authorities said the official identification of the victims would follow standard procedures by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Timeline of the response
LAFD paramedics arrived following a medical aid call placed in the midafternoon. LAPD officers then established a perimeter and began canvassing the neighborhood for surveillance footage and witnesses.
Detectives processed areas inside the home through the evening, documenting the scene and collecting physical evidence.
Officials said the couple was found in their Brentwood residence not long before 4 p.m. The investigation intensified as night fell, with specialized detectives and forensic teams rotating through the property. No public alert was issued for an outstanding suspect at that stage, and police did not immediately release a detailed timeline of events leading up to the discovery.
Nick Reiner taken into custody
By late Sunday, Nick Reiner had been detained by authorities. Jail records reviewed by reporters show he was booked on suspicion of murder and held on $4 million bail.
The Los Angeles Times reported the booking occurred in the early hours of Monday after an initial detention on Sunday night. Reuters also reported that he was under arrest in connection with the deaths.
Officials did not announce formal charges immediately. It was not clear whether Reiner had retained an attorney. Law enforcement sources said detectives were interviewing family members and associates while waiting on forensic results and autopsy findings.
Details from the scene and early leads
Investigators said there were injuries consistent with stabbing. Sources told local media there was no sign of forced entry. Detectives are reviewing whether any alarm data, entry logs, or nearby cameras captured movements in and out of the home on Sunday afternoon. They are also constructing a timeline of the family’s whereabouts during the weekend.
Authorities asked anyone with information to contact homicide detectives and said digital submissions of photos or video from the area could assist the case. Officials emphasized that the inquiry is active and that additional updates would be released as soon as they are verified.
Public statements and industry reaction
Mayor Karen Bass called the killings a devastating loss and offered condolences to the family. A family spokesperson said, “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” asking for privacy during the period of grief. Messages of remembrance from the entertainment world followed through the evening.
Local broadcasters reported that friends and colleagues, including actors Billy Crystal and Larry David, arrived separately at the Brentwood home after news of the deaths became public. Neighbors described a steady flow of police and coroner vehicles in the area while investigators worked inside.
Career and personal background
Rob Reiner first gained national recognition in the 1970s for his role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family.”
He went on to direct a string of widely known films, including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…,” “Misery,” and “A Few Good Men.” He was a co-founder of Castle Rock Entertainment, a company associated with film and television hits over several decades.
Michele Reiner, also known as Michele Singer Reiner, worked as a photographer and producer and was involved in creative and philanthropic projects with her husband. The couple married in 1989 and had three children together.
