The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is reviewing evidence related to the deaths of film director and actor Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner. Police have reported the arrest of the couple's son, Nick Reiner, on Sunday night, who was subsequently booked for murder. He is currently held with a $4 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court for charges.
Nick Reiner, 32, was born in Los Angeles and is one of Rob Reiner's four children, as well as the grandson of comedy legend Carl Reiner.
History of Addiction
Reiner had publicly addressed his struggles with substance abuse, indicating he began using drugs at the age of 15. He spent years in and out of rehab and addiction treatment centers. In a 2016 interview with NPR, Reiner described himself as 'a spoiled, white, rich kid from a Hollywood family,' but noted the powerful nature of drugs, which he stated can overshadow such circumstances.
He had been candid about using various drugs, including methamphetamine and heroin, and openly discussed his multiple relapses. On the 'Dopey' podcast in 2016, he spoke about his aversion to sobriety and instances where he opted for homelessness rather than returning to a rehabilitation facility.
'Being Charlie' Film
Ten years ago, following extensive periods in and out of halfway homes and treatment centers, Reiner co-wrote a screenplay based on some of his experiences. His father, Rob Reiner, co-produced and directed the resulting film, 'Being Charlie.' This semi-autobiographical narrative depicts a troubled teenager's turbulent relationship with his famous father, who is depicted as running for California governor.
A scene in the film features the character Charlie telling his father, 'It was never about the drugs. All I ever wanted was a way to kill the noise.' In another pivotal scene, Charlie's father expresses his love and discusses supportive tough love, stating, 'Every expert with a desk and a diploma told me I had to be tough on you. But every time we sent you away to another one of those programs, if I saw you slipping further away from us, all I could tell myself was 'I'd rather have you alive and hating me than dead on the streets.''
Rob Reiner informed NPR that collaborating on 'Being Charlie' represented his most satisfying creative experience, attributing it to the opportunity to work with Nick and process difficult past experiences. Nick Reiner also told NPR that the film's creation was integral to his long recovery journey. He commented, 'A lot of people that go through addictions of all kinds are kind of hard to love. So I guess the character was to show how ugly it gets.'
Reiner acknowledged engaging in actions similar to a scene in the film where the character Charlie steals OxyContin from an elderly woman. He stated, 'I have definitely done things similar to that. I can't say I've done that in quite some time, but when I was going through a lot of that stuff, sure, you don't really think about anything. You throw your morals out of the window.'
Reactions to the Deaths
The reported killings of Rob and Michele Reiner caused shock among friends and fans globally. Cinematographer Barry Markowitz, who worked on 'Being Charlie' and other Rob Reiner films, expressed devastation. He described the Reiners as a 'stronger than strong' close-knit family and noted he frequently stayed with them in Los Angeles.
Markowitz offered a different portrayal of Nick Reiner, recalling a young man who enjoyed basketball and had traveled to Europe to learn about his family's Jewish roots. He stated he had seen Nick and the family in Los Angeles just 10 days prior to the arrest. Markowitz commented, '[Nick] was going through some rough times for many years, but his soul was so pure and gentle. He was on the upswing. Looked like a GQ model. I wish I could give you a tidbit or something, like 'oh, he looked bad and this and that'-- he didn't. That's what's so spooky about mental illness.'