On December 14, 2025, reports surfaced that two people had been found dead in a home owned by Rob Reiner and his longtime wife, Michele Singer Reiner. As the night progressed, the Reiner family released a statement to Variety confirming that it was Rob and Michele Reiner who’d passed away and expressing their sorrow at the tragic situation. “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
The events took another shocking turn when People reported that “exclusive sources” had told the outlet that it was the couple’s son, Nick Reiner, who was responsible for their deaths. It is important to note that report is unconfirmed as of the time of this writing.
Years before the tragic events that have shocked the world, Nick Reiner spoke about his relationship with his father. During an interview, Nick discussed building a bond with his dad late in life while working on a project together.
Nick Reiner Described Bonding With His Dady, Rob Reiner, Only as an Adult
In May 2016, a movie called Being Charlie was released, which was directed by Rob Reiner and co-written by his son, Nick Reiner. The movie focuses on a young man who goes into rehab to try to overcome his substance use disorder, and the story also tackles his complicated relationship with his father. In 2016, Nick spoke to people about his own substance use disorder battles, which were mirrored in the events of the movie. Also, in May of that year, Nick and Rob Reiner were interviewed for the BUILD Series YouTube channel about the project they worked on together.
The interview, which took place years before the tragic events of December 2025, featured Nick Reiner talking about his relationship with his father. While being interviewed with his dad, Nick Reiner stated that, unlike his brother, he hadn’t been close with his father growing up. “We didn’t bond a lot as a kid, like he really liked baseball, I like basketball, and he could watch that with my brother, but baseball.”
Instead of becoming close to his famous dad as a child, Nick Reiner explained that working on Being Charlie with his father drew them closer for the first time. Nick Reiner also explained that their relationship didn’t change because of the specific story that they were telling together, despite its semi-autobiographical nature. Instead, the father and son were drawn closer together because of the experience of making a film in tandem.
“I think the bonding came not from the story itself, but from the fact that we were working on a movie together, and I could see him and his… I would think in the form that he could express himself the best, which is making movies, because he has so much experience, and so seeing that sort of turned me around to be like, ‘Okay, I should probably shut up and listen to him, because he knows a lot more about this. He knows, I don’t know anything, so I’ll learn whatever he has to teach me… When I saw him do that, and it was something that I’m interested in, I was like, ‘Wow, like, he really knows a lot, and, like, it made me feel closer to him and be like, ‘Yeah.’”
Rob Reiner Hoped Making a Movie With His Son, Nick Reiner, Made Him a Better Father
During the same BUILD Series YouTube channel interview, Rob Reiner spoke about the experience of working with his son, Nick Reiner, on Being Charlie. For example, Rob Reiner spoke several times about deferring to Nick Reiner’s judgment on how to make the film due to his real-life experience with the subject matter. Also during the interview, Rob Reiner revealed that he hoped that the experience of making the film with Nick Reiner had made him a better father.
“The whole process for me, I can just speak for myself, it did make me understand him a lot more, and I think it made me a better father. Hopefully it did. I don’t know.”
Men’s Journal has reached out to representatives for Rob Reiner for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available 24 hours a day through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.
