A matter of weeks ago, Nick Reiner, who is suspected of killing his famous parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, was sitting down to family dinners and pouring drinks for houseguests
Mere weeks before allegedly murdering his parents, Nick Reiner appeared to one houseguest to be the very picture of a caring son, helping out with household chores and even joining in on family dinners.
These scenes of apparent domestic bliss seem to be in stark contrast to the tragedy that was about to unfold. On the afternoon of Sunday, December 14, 2025, the bodies of filmmaking legend Rob Reiner, 78, and his producer wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found at their Brentwood mansion.
The couple had suffered multiple stab wounds, and reports suggest their throats had been slit. It was allegedly the Reiners’ daughter, Romy, 28, who discovered her slain parents. Middle son Nick, 32, has since been charged on suspicion of the double murder. It has has not yet been decided whether or not the District Attorney’s Office will pursue the death penalty.
Here, the Mirror takes a look at Nick Reiner’s allegedly erratic behaviour leading up to the tragedy that has shaken Hollywood.
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Struggles with addiction
It’s understood the screenwriter first went to rehab at the age of just 15 in what was to be the first of 17 stints. In 2016, at the age of 22, he claimed he was left homeless after repeatedly refusing offers of help.
Nick told People magazine: “I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas. I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun. If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless.”
In a 2018 podcast, Rob’s son admitted to destroying his parents’ guest house while high on meth. He recalled: “It’s not much of a story. I got totally spun out on uppers — I think it was coke and something else — and I was up for days on end. I started punching out different things in my guest house.”
According to Nick, he “started with the TV and then I went over to the lamp,” and eventually “everything in the guest house got wrecked.” When asked as to whether there was “any logic at all” to his behaviour, Nick responded that he was in a “crazy” state. He also revealed that, prior to this incident, his parents told him he “had to go”.
Nick is said to have distanced himself from his family when his addiction was at its height, but then returned to his parents’ home. He would allegedly leave them frightened with “chaotic” binges where he wouldn’t sleep for days.
But in September, just months before his death, Hollywood legend Rob said in an interview that Nick was doing “great” and had been drug-free for “over six years.”
Rob’s heartbreaking regret
In 2015, Rob, famed for classics such as Stand By Me and The Princess Bride, took time out of his busy career to direct a movie written by his son Nick his friend Matt Elisofon, who he met in rehab. A semi-autobiographical movie, Being Charlie, focuses on issues such as drug addiction and homelessness.
Silver screen icon Rob even took a starring role, playing celebrity actor turned governor, David. The movie ends with David apologising to titular character Charlie, who is based on Nick. Rob confirmed this was that had actually happened, and was something he felt he owed to his son.
Rob and Michele had previously shared that they didn’t always listen to their Nick, with Michele reflecting that they’d been “influenced” by others. Speaking with the LA Times at the Toronto International Film Festival at the time of the premiere, Rob said: “When Nick would tell us that it wasn’t working for him, we wouldn’t listen. We were desperate and because the people had diplomas on their wall, we listened to them when we should have been listening to our son.”
Michele added: “We were so influenced by these people. They would tell us he’s a liar, that he was trying to manipulate us. And we believed them.” Opening up about his experiences, Nick said: “I got sick of it. I got sick of doing that …. I come from a nice family. I’m not supposed to be out there on the streets and in homeless shelters doing all these things.”
‘Hostile’ family dynamic
A source told Us Weekly that Nick allegedly “always” had a “volatile” and “hostile” relationship with all family members, including siblings Jake and Romy.
It’s claimed that Romy in particular “has been so traumatised by Nick’s behavior over the years”, with the source alleging: “She has always been so close with her parents, and watching their constant pain over Nick has impacted her and the whole family so much.”
The source continued: “They did everything a parent could possibly do to help him. Even in his younger years, they really tried to get him help. And then it became a cycle of seeking treatment for him, kicking him out, or him leaving the house, him moving back in.”
‘Love fest’ household
Cinematographer Barry Markowitz, who worked closely with his friend Rob over the years, has spoken out about his recent stay at the Reiner household. The Tel Aviv-based director of photography had been in LA for the November 14 premiere of his film, The Perfect Gamble, and generous Rob wouldn’t hear of him staying in a hotel.
Barry recalled how, just weeks before the double tragedy unfolded, he spent time with Rob, Michele, Nick and Romy as they went about their “business as usual.” Elder son Jake is understood to have been busy elsewhere with work.
Looking back on this seemingly happy time, Barry remembered: “Romy was in and out [of the house] and at dinner time she comes over and we all bulls–t together. [We would] scream at the TV, we watched a movie and a basketball game. Played with the dogs. Family time. One big love fest.”
Barry told PageSix that he didn’t notice “anything strange” within the family unit, and even noted that Nick appeared to be “on the upswing.” He said: “He looked great. He was sitting and talking with the family. They eat dinner together, old school, and a lot of love, always a lot of love.”
During Barry’s visit, Nick would head out to play tennis or “shoot hoops”, and was a present member of the household. According to Barry: “He helped out, he took out the garbage, he watched TV, he washed dishes. He’d bring me something to drink. He was just normal in that sense.”
Christmas party ‘row’
Rob and Michele’s final Saturday night was spent at Conan O’Brien’s star-studded Christmas party, where they’d brought Nick along to “keep an eye on him”. Nick allegedly ended up creating an uncomfortable scene, with a source telling People: “Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous.”
It’s claimed that a “very loud argument” erupted between parents ad son, allegedly over Nick’s drug use and refusal to try more treatment. Nick’s disruptive behaviour at the fetive bash allegedly gave his worried parents cause for alarm.
As reported by The New York Post, a longtime friend of the Reiners, who lives close to the family home, stated: “They had had an argument at Conan’s holiday party, and Rob had been telling people that they’re scared for Nick and scared that his mental state was deterioating.”
While Nick had supposedly worked on getting sober from drugs, it’s claimed that “he was not so much off them”, a subject which allegedly cropped up at the gettogether. Another family friend said: “I know [the parents] wanted him to get help, go to rehab, but he wanted to get help while at home – he did not want to get treatment at a facility. And I know they have argued about that for years.”
NBC also reports that the Hollywood couple’s son became “disruptive and upset” when his parents raised their concerns over his health at the party where, as per Rolling Stone sources, Nick “exhibited anti-social behavior”, including staring at people. After the allegedly blazing row, Rob and Michele ended up leaving.
Horror discovery
Tragically, just hours later, Rob and Michele were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14. Their bodies were allegedly found by their daughter, Romy – with the LA Fire Department called to the gruesome scene at around 3.30pm local time, to provide medical aid.
A source has claimed that Rob and Michele were killed “in the middle of the night”. They told the Daily Mail: “They were in bed when that happened.” LAPD sources also told TMZ that “rigor mortis appeared to have set in Rob and Michele’s bodies,” meaning that the pair would had lain dead for hours by the time Romy made the dreadful discovery.
LA officials then confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday night that Rob will be charged with the murder of his parents. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole. Hochman said no decision has been made if prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
Hochman said: “I’m here to announce that our office will be filing charges against Nick Reiner accused of killing his parents. These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife.
“These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. No decision at this point has been made with the respect to the death penalty. Nick Reiner is being held without bail. I want to announce these are just charges. Charges are not evidence. Evidence is something that will be presenting in a court of law.”
Nick is currently being held in custody. On Sunday, Los Angeles Police officers were responded to a death investigation at the Reiner home, according to LA Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell.
He said: “Upon entering the residence, they discovered the bodies of Mr. And Mrs. Reiner. Detectives from our robbery homicide division homicide special section immediately initiated a comprehensive investigation.”
Police then gathered evidence which has resulted in the arrest of the couple’s son Nick Reiner, McDonnell said. He was taken into custody that night. McDonnell added: “This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones, but for our entire city. We extend our deepest condolences to all of those who are affected by this tragedy.”
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