Rob Reiner, Wife Found Stabbed to Death in LA Home

The family of acclaimed film director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, has announced in a statement that the couple has been found stabbed to death Sunday afternoon inside the Brentwood home in Los Angeles.

"It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner," a family spokesman told CNN. "We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time."

Los Angeles police confirmed two people were found stabbed to death, launching a high-profile homicide investigation that has reverberated across Hollywood.

Brentwood is the famed location of the June 12, 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman of which the late O.J. Simpson was charged but acquitted for.

Exclusive sources told People Magazine that Reiner's son Nick Reiner, 32, might be involved in the investigation, but law enforcement at Sunday night's news conference rejected any proclamation on a suspect, saying "that did not come from the LAPD."

Reiner has two sons, Jake and Nick. In past interviews, Nick Reiner had spoken candidly about struggles with drug addiction and periods of homelessness, recounting in a 2016 interview with People magazine that he lived on the streets in several states and described the experience as deeply difficult, the Post reported.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner's death a devastating loss for the city.

"Rob Reiner's contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice," Bass said in a statement.

"An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others."

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Those are the ages of Reiner and his wife.

Paramedics were dispatched to the home around 3:30 p.m., followed shortly by LAPD officers responding to what was described as an "ambulance death investigation." Detectives from the department's Robbery-Homicide Division were called in, and a knife is believed to have been used in the attack, sources said.

Police blocked off the street outside the upscale Brentwood property as detectives moved in and out of the home. The residence, decorated for the holidays, sits in a gated neighborhood known for its privacy.

Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an "apparent homicide" at Reiner's home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Reiner is long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work includes some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and '90s, including "This is Spinal Tap," "A Few Good Men," "When Harry Met Sally" and "The Princess Bride."

His role as Meathead in the 1970s TV classic "All in the Family" alongside Carol O'Connor's Archie Bunker catapulted him to fame.

Reiner turned 78 in March.

"Jen and I are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner," California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote in a late-night X post.

"Rob was the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love, with projects as wide-ranging as The Princess Bride to A Few Good Men.

"His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others — and encouraging us to dream bigger. That empathy extended well beyond his films.

"Rob was a passionate advocate for children and for civil rights — from taking on Big Tobacco, fighting for marriage equality, to serving as a powerful voice in early education.

"He made California a better place through his good works. Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity."

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner has been married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing "When Harry Met Sally" and have three children together.

Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98 and Marshall died in 2018.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.