Rob and Michele Reiner found dead in Los Angeles home in apparent homicide

Veteran filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles mansion on 14 December, in what police have described as an "apparent homicide". The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed that it is not currently seeking any suspects in connection with the deaths.

Both were discovered with what appeared to be stab wounds, according to US media reports, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the film industry and political community.

Police and emergency responders were called to the property in Brentwood shortly after 3.30pm, following a medical aid request, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed.

Though LAPD declined to officially identify the victims, public statements by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed that the deceased were 78-year-old Rob Reiner and his 68-year-old wife Michele.

LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton stated that a full crime scene investigation was pending the issuance of a search warrant. "We’re waiting for the legal process to move forward," he said. "The house remains in the same condition as when officers first arrived."

Despite the violent circumstances, police have indicated they are not pursuing any suspects at this stage. “We are not looking for anyone as a suspect or in any other manner at this time,” Hamilton said at a press conference.

A law enforcement source told CNN that a family member was being interviewed on Sunday evening, but police stressed that no one had been detained or identified as a suspect. The investigation remains ongoing.

A spokesperson for the Reiner family confirmed the deaths, describing the situation as “tragic” and requesting privacy. “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss,” the statement read.

Rob Reiner’s death marks the loss of a defining figure in American cinema and television. His directorial works include When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, and This Is Spinal Tap. He first rose to prominence for his role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic in the television sitcom All in the Family, which earned him two Emmy Awards.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner’s death a “devastating loss for the city”. In a statement, she said, “Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society. He improved countless lives through his creative work and his advocacy for social and economic justice.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom echoed similar sentiments, calling Reiner “a cultural icon whose films defined generations”.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), of which Reiner had been a member for nearly six decades, paid tribute to his legacy. Union president Sean Astin said, “Rob Reiner is one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television. His work shaped American culture in ways that are immeasurable.”

Astin added, “So many of Mr Reiner’s films and performances made me think, made me emotional, and especially made me laugh really hard. That’s how I will remember him.”

Reiner was the son of legendary comedian and filmmaker Carl Reiner, who died in 2020. Rob had been married to Michele Singer Reiner, a photographer, since 1989.

The two met during the making of When Harry Met Sally, and had three children together. He was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981, adopting her daughter Tracy Reiner.

Killings are rare in the affluent Brentwood neighbourhood where the couple lived. The area was also the site of the 1994 killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, which were central to the O.J. Simpson murder trial.

The LAPD has said it will continue investigating the case overnight and through the coming days. Authorities have asked the public to withhold speculation until all facts are confirmed.