Hollywood Director Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Singer Found Dead in Los Angeles Home
US film director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner have been found dead at their home in Los Angeles, with police treating the case as an apparent homicide.
Emergency services were called to the property shortly after 3.30pm on Sunday, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Inside the residence, first responders discovered the bodies of a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman, both pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has confirmed that detectives are investigating the deaths. While police have not officially identified the deceased, a spokesperson for the family confirmed to CNN that the victims were Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
An official familiar with the investigation said the couple are believed to have suffered stab wounds. A family member is currently being questioned. The official spoke on condition of anonymity and said details could not yet be discussed publicly. LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said patrol officers who attended the home discovered two bodies inside the residence. Detectives from the department’s robbery-homicide unit were awaiting a search warrant before carrying out a full forensic examination of the property.
Rob Reiner, Michele Singer And Children Nick, Romy, Jake
Police later described the case as an investigation into an “apparent homicide”, but said no suspect had been identified as of Sunday evening. A cause of death will be formally determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom both issued statements confirming the deaths and paying tribute to Reiner’s legacy. “This is a devastating loss for our city and our country. 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,” Mayor Bass said.
Governor Newsom said he and his wife were “heartbroken by the tragic loss of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.” He added: “Rob was the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love… His boundless empathy made his stories timeless.”
Former US president Barack Obama also paid tribute, writing that “beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people—and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.”
Rob Reiner, who turned 78 earlier this year, was one of Hollywood’s most influential directors. His work includes This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride and A Few Good Men. He also starred as Mike ‘Meathead’ Stivic in the sitcom All in the Family.
His wife Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer and producer. She previously took the photograph of Donald Trump used on the cover of Trump: The Art of the Deal.
Beyond film, Reiner was known for his political activism and support of Democratic candidates, including John Kerry, Al Gore and Hillary Clinton.
Reiner was previously married to Penny Marshall. He later married Michele Singer Reiner, with whom he had three children: Romy, Nick and Jake Reiner.
Police say the investigation remains ongoing.
