UPDATE: The bodies of Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer-producer Michele Singer Reiner, have been found in their Brentwood home, sources confirmed to Deadline.
It appears the acclaimed director and his wife were slain by knife wounds.
The LAPD are on the scene but have not issued an official confirmation yet. A press conference is expected to take place tonight.
PREVIOUSLY, 6:35 p.m.: Law enforcement are at the home of prolific actor-director Rob Reiner right now, in what is currently a rapidly unfolding situation.
Two people were found dead, as a result of a stabbing, in the multi-hyphenate’s Brentwood mansion, authorities confirmed to Deadline. Though law enforcement did not disclose the identities of the deceased, they were identified as a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman, respectively, descriptions that match the ages of Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner.
LAPD homicide detectives are on the scene right now, law enforcement sources tell Deadline.
Billy Crystal and Larry David were reported on the scene, per ABC Los Angeles.
LAFD received an urgent call of an “incident” at the Reiner home, located on the 200 block of South Chadbourne Avenue, at approximately 3:38 p.m. this Sunday. The organization arrived at the residence soon afterward, with the LAPD on the scene within the hour. Authorities described the situation as a “family incident.” Well-placed sources told Deadline that authorities were summoned by one of the Reiner children, believed to be daughter Romy Reiner, who lives in the neighborhood.
Police officers have cordoned off several blocks around the house, in what is now a murder investigation.
Reiner first rose to fame with his breakout role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on Norman Lear’s pioneering CBS sitcom All in the Family, which ran for nine seasons throughout the better part of the ’70s. Portraying the progressive, countercultural hipster and husband to Sally Struthers’ Gloria, he often sparred with Carroll O’Connor’s bigoted Archie Bunker in a role that was sought by Richard Dreyfuss and turned down by Harrison Ford.
The performer went on to helm a number of classic and beloved films, which often blended comedic and dramatic sensibilities with ease. His 1984 metal band mockumentary This is Spinal Tap served as the blueprint for musical documentary satires, getting the sequel treatment earlier this year. Additional credits by the filmmaker include Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture), The American President and Flipped.
Throughout his extensive directing career, Reiner continued acting, appearing in such movies as Sleepless in Seattle and The Wolf of Wall Street. On television, he additionally appeared as himself on The Larry Sanders Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock and Wizards of Waverly Place. He also had roles on New Girl, Hollywood, The Good Fight and, most recently, The Bear.
Prior to landing the role on All in the Family, Reiner booked early career roles on Manhunt, Batman, The Andy Griffith Show, That Girl, The Beverly Hillbillies and The Partridge Family. Afterward, Reiner also booked parts on The Odd Couple and The Rockford Files.
Reiner was born March 6, 1947 in the Bronx, New York City, into an entertainment industry dynasty. His parents were Carl Reiner, the 11-time Emmy Award-winning The Dick Van Dyke Show creator, and Estelle Reiner (née Lebost), an actress and singer who notably appeared as the scene-stealing customer in the When Harry Met Sally scene at Katz’s Delicatessen, who quips, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
The filmmaker met Michele Singer Reiner on the set of the inimitable Meg Ryan- and Crystal-led romantic dramedy, and the two had three children, daughter Romy and sons Nick and Jake. Reiner was previously wed to Laverne & Shirley star and Big director Penny Marshall, who died in 2018.
Outside of his revered, decades-spanning career, the director was an outspoken political advocate and Democratic Party booster. His latest comments in October included warning of President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to California and Oregon, calling the administration “beyond McCarthy era-esque” and urging Hollywood storytellers to “start communicating to the rest of the country, to let them know what is going to happen to them.”
