LOS ANGELES — Nick Reiner, the son of filmmaker Rob Reiner, was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of the actor-director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, prosecutors said. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office said the couple died from “multiple sharp force injuries,” and authorities have not disclosed a motive, Dec. 18, 2025.
Nick Reiner, 32, made a brief court appearance Wednesday but did not enter a plea. A judge continued the arraignment to Jan. 7, 2026, after the defense requested more time, according to Reuters’ account of the first hearing.
Prosecutors also alleged a special circumstance for multiple murders and said Nick Reiner personally used a knife, an enhancement that could increase any potential sentence, according to an Associated Press report on the charges. District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office has not decided whether to seek the death penalty.
Rob Reiner case: what investigators have said so far
Police have said Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead Sunday afternoon at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood. The medical examiner ruled the manner of death a homicide and listed the cause as “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to a report by NBC Los Angeles.
Nick Reiner was arrested hours later near the University of Southern California in the Exposition Park area, officials said. He is being held without bail as the case proceeds, local station ABC7 reported.
The deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner have jolted Hollywood and Democratic political circles, where the couple was known for both entertainment work and activism. Rob Reiner played Michael “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family” and later directed films including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand by Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…” and “A Few Good Men.”
The couple’s surviving children, Jake and Romy, issued a statement asking for privacy as the family grieves. “Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” they said.
Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner’s earlier public battle with addiction
Years before the killings, the father and son collaborated on the semi-autobiographical film “Being Charlie,” which drew from addiction and recovery. A 2016 New Yorker profile described how Rob Reiner directed the movie and Nick Reiner co-wrote it, leaning on personal experience and repeated stints in rehab.
The film’s release drew mixed reviews. In a 2016 Guardian review, critics noted the movie’s familiar recovery beats while also crediting it for scenes that rang true inside treatment programs.
Investigators have released few details beyond the charging documents and medical examiner’s findings, and police have not said whether drugs played any role in the deaths. The Rob Reiner case is expected to return to court in early January as prosecutors and defense attorneys begin laying out their positions ahead of any future trial.
