Nick Reiner, the son of legendary Hollywood writer/director Rob Reiner, remained jailed without bail Tuesday on suspicion of murder in connection with the apparent stabbing deaths of his famous father and his mother, Michele, inside their Brentwood home.
Reiner, 32, was arrested Sunday night, hours after the discovery of his parents’ bodies.
It was unclear when Reiner would make his first court appearance. As of Tuesday morning, no charges had been filed against him by the District Attorney’s Office. His attorney, Alan Jackson, told reporters gathered at the downtown Los Angeles criminal courthouse that Reiner had not been medically cleared by jail staff, so he was not expected to appear in court Tuesday.
Law-enforcement sources told TMZ that Nick Reiner was being held in administrative segregation at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles and is on suicide watch.
The bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were discovered around 3:30 p.m. Sunday at their home in the 200 block of Chadbourne Avenue, between Sunset and San Vicente Boulevards, according to police and fire officials.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information Center, Nick Reiner, was arrested at 9:15 p.m. Sunday and was booked at 5:04 a.m. Monday on suspicion of murder. He was initially being held on $4 million bail, but was later listed as being jailed with no bail. Video posted online showed Reiner being taken into custody near the USC campus.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters Monday that Robbery-Homicide Division detectives “were able to take into custody Nick Reiner, a suspect in this case. He was subsequently booked for murder and is being held on $4 million bail.”
McDonnell called the killings a “very, very tragic incident.”
There was no official word regarding a possible motive for the crime or the cause of death.
TMZ reported that Reiner and his wife suffered “lacerations consistent with a knife,” describing the victims as having their throats slit.
According to multiple reports, the couple’s 28-year-old daughter, Romy Reiner, discovered the bodies. One report suggested that a masseuse had shown up at the couple’s home for a pre-scheduled appointment on Sunday but got no answer at the door and contacted Romy.
TMZ and other outlets reported Monday that Rob and Michele Reiner, along with Nick, attended talk-show host Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party on Saturday night, and Rob got into a heated argument with Nick and wound up leaving the event with his wife. It was unclear when Nick Reiner left. According to TMZ, Michele Reiner had also allegedly lamented to friends in recent weeks about Nick’s mental health and addiction issues, saying, “We’ve tried everything.”
In 2015, Nick Reiner worked with his father to write and produce a semi-autobiographical movie titled “Being Charlie,” based on Nick’s drug-addiction issues and the family’s struggles to cope. Nick Reiner was publicly open about his addiction struggles, discussing the issue in multiple interviews with media outlets and on podcasts.
Nick Reiner described being in and out of rehab programs throughout his teen years, and spending time homeless in various states, including Texas, New Jersey and Maine. He also described an instance when he was high on cocaine for multiple days and trashed his parents’ guest house.
A statement issued by the Reiner family was published by Variety on Sunday, saying, “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Reiner worked in the movie and television industries for five decades, with credits that include starring in the CBS hit sitcom “All in the Family” and directing a string of movies including “Stand By Me,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “This Is Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride” and “A Few Good Men.”
The son of celebrated writer/producer/comedian Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner began his career in 1968, writing for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” on a writing team that included a young Steve Martin. Reiner also had bit roles in various TV shows, including “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Batman.”
His big break came with his casting as Archie Bunker’s liberal son-in-law Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the groundbreaking sitcom “All in the Family” in the 1970s. The role won him two Primetime Emmy Awards.
But it was his work behind the camera that saw him achieve even more success. “A Few Good Men,” starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, was nominated for an Oscar for best picture. His other credits included “Ghosts of Mississippi,” “The American President” and “Misery.”
Reiner’s final film, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” was released in theatres Sept. 12.
Reiner was married for 10 years to actress/director Penny Marshall, but they divorced in 1981. He met photographer Michele Singer while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally…”
Reiner often told the story about how his romance with Singer led him to change the ending to the movie — with the characters played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan reuniting rather than going their separate ways.
Reiner and Singer married in 1989 and they had three children — sons Nick and Jake and daughter Romy.
He was a vocal Democrat activist, helping to spearhead efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in California and to pass a 1998 initiative that created the First 5 California childhood-development services program, funded by a tobacco tax.
On Monday, a shrine of candles and flowers was growing at Reiner’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star as fans expressed their grief. One of the flower arrangements placed on the star was accompanied by a handwritten note that read, “RIP Meathead.”