The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is currently reviewing evidence concerning the deaths of film director and actor Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner. Police confirm that their son, Nick Reiner, was arrested on Sunday evening and booked for murder. He is being held on a $4 million bail and is scheduled for a court appearance to face charges.
Background on Nick Reiner
Nick Reiner, 32, is one of Rob Reiner's four children, born in Los Angeles. His grandfather, Carl Reiner, was a notable figure in early television comedy.
Mr. Reiner had publicly discussed his experiences with substance use, indicating that he began using drugs at age 15. He described spending years in and out of rehabilitation and addiction treatment facilities. In a 2016 interview with NPR, he stated, "I am a spoiled, white, rich kid from a Hollywood family. But I think it's even more of a testament to how powerful drugs can be that you don't care about any of that stuff."
He had disclosed using various substances, including methamphetamine and heroin, and acknowledged multiple relapses. On the "Dopey" podcast in 2016, he spoke about finding sobriety challenging and, at times, opting for homelessness over returning to rehab.
The Film "Being Charlie"
Approximately ten years ago, following a period in and out of halfway homes and treatment centers, Mr. Reiner co-wrote a screenplay based on some of his personal experiences. His father co-produced and directed the resulting film, Being Charlie. The movie is described as a semi-autobiographical narrative about a teenager's difficulties and his relationship with his famous father, who is campaigning for California governor.
A line from 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 a significant scene, Charlie's father expresses his love and discusses supporting him through "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 reportedly told NPR that the collaboration on the film represented his most satisfying creative experience due to the opportunity to work with Nick and address past difficulties. Nick Reiner, for his part, stated to NPR that making the movie was a component of his recovery process, intended to illustrate "how ugly it gets" for individuals experiencing addiction. He also acknowledged performing actions similar to a scene where the character Charlie steals OxyContin, stating, "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 and Recent Observations
The reported deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner have elicited reactions from friends and fans globally. Cinematographer Barry Markowitz, who worked on Being Charlie and other films by Rob Reiner, expressed distress. Mr. Markowitz, a family friend, characterized the Reiners as a "stronger than strong" and close-knit family, noting he frequently stayed with them in Los Angeles.
Mr. Markowitz also offered observations about Nick Reiner, describing him as a young man who enjoyed basketball and had traveled to Europe to learn about his family's Jewish heritage. He stated he had seen Nick and the family ten days prior in Los Angeles. According to Mr. Markowitz, 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."