Outside the Beltway

Rob Reiner, 1947-2025

The great director and actor was killed, along with his wife, apparently by their son.

James Joyner · Monday, December 15, 2025 · 4 comments

New York Times, “Rob Reiner, Actor Who Went on to Direct Classic Films, Dies at 78“

Rob Reiner, the son of a pioneering television comedian who became a popular sitcom actor himself before directing a slate of beloved films, including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “The Princess Bride,” died on Sunday. He was 78.

His death, along with that of his wife, Michele, was announced by Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department said it was investigating “an apparent homicide” at the Reiners’ home.

Mr. Reiner, who initially rose to fame playing Meathead, Archie Bunker’s son-in-law, on the sitcom “All in the Family” in the 1970s, went on to become a remarkably versatile film director. He seemed equally adept at the mockumentary (“Spinal Tap,” 1984), the coming-of-age film (“Stand by Me,” 1986), the children’s classic (“Princess Bride,” 1987), the romantic comedy (“When Harry Met Sally …” 1989) and the courtroom drama (“A Few Good Men,” 1992).

Throughout his career as a director and a producer, Mr. Reiner continued to work as an actor on television and in the films of others, making himself into a rare Hollywood fixture who was known for his work both behind the camera and in front of it. He also led a vibrant political life, lending his celebrity to a variety of liberal causes, including gay marriage.

[…]

During Mr. Reiner’s eight years on “All in the Family,” from 1971 to 1978, he won two Emmy Awards for best supporting actor. He also began spending time in the writers’s room and closely observing the set, picking up an education in behind-the-scenes work.

He had an ambition to direct since he was a teenager, and while a cast member on the sitcom, he directed a little-known television movie. Five years after the show ended, in 1984, he made his directorial debut with “This Is Spinal Tap,” a mockumentary about a British band past its prime that turned into a cult classic.

[…]

Last year, as Mr. Reiner was preparing to shoot the sequel to “Spinal Tap,” he spoke to The New York Times about some of the things that were most important to him. The first things he mentioned were “my wife and kids.”

“That’s the most important to me,” he said. “There’s that joke, nobody on their death bed ever said, ‘I should have spent more time at the office.’ Nobody says that.”

People, “Rob Reiner and His Wife Michele Were Killed by Their Son (Exclusive Sources)“

Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed by their son, Nick, according to multiple sources who have spoken with family members. Police have not yet confirmed the account.

On Sunday, Dec. 14, at about 3:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was called to a home to provide medical aid, the LAFD told PEOPLE. Upon arrival, they found a man, 78, and a woman, 68, dead. Sources confirm the victims were Rob and Michele.

Police say Nick, 32, is alive and being questioned. No arrests have been made.

Like most of my generation, I first knew Reiner through his role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family, which we watched from its 1971 inception and long into its run in syndication. I’ve also enjoyed most of his movies, although I’m not sure when it was that I became aware that they were his movies. The sheer range of their styles was remarkable.

I stumbled on news that he and his wife were feared dead looking for school closure updates on Twitter while Steven Taylor and I were commiserating back-and-forth over yet another dismal performance by the Cowboys’ defense. As the night wore on, the news that they were likely murdered emerged. That their son is the likely culprit compounds the tragedy.