Amanda Edwards/WireImage
NEED TO KNOW
Rob Reiner was introduced to Michele Singer while directing When Harry Met Sally
Rob and Michele tied the knot in 1989 and welcomed three children during their marriage: sons Jake and Nick, and daughter Romy
Rob and Michele were found dead by apparent homicide inside their Brentwood, Calif., home on Dec. 14
Rob Reinerhad been a prominent figure in Hollywood for decades, known for his work both behind the camera and on the big screen.
The Oscar-nominated director — who is also the son of legendary comedian and filmmakerCarl Reiner— had spoken publicly over the years about his marriage and children.
On Sunday, Dec. 14, a man and a womanwere found deadat a Los Angeles mansion owned by Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was called to the home at around 3:30 p.m. local time to provide medical aid, and upon arrival, they found two people dead, the LAFD confirmed to PEOPLE.
The victims were Rob, 78, and Michele, 68, and the couple waskilled by their son, Nick Reiner, according to multiple sourceswho have spoken to family members. Police are questioning Nick and have not confirmed his involvement. They have made no arrests.
Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/Shutterstock
Rob was born Robert Maxwell Reiner on March 6, 1947, in New York City. He is the son of Carl, best known for creatingThe Dick Van Dyke Show. After starting his career as an actor onAll in the Family, Rob transitioned into directing, going on to helm some of the most iconic films of the 1980s and 1990s, includingStand by Me,The Princess Bride,When Harry Met Sally…,MiseryandA Few Good Men. He has received multiple Academy Award nominations and remains an influential voice in film and politics.
Rob met Michele while directingWhen Harry Met Sally
Rob was introduced to Michele while directingWhen Harry Met Sally. When the film celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019, Rob revealed the happy ending in whichMeg Ryan's Sally andBilly Crystal's Harry end up together wasn't originally in Nora Ephron's script.
Rob toldCouchsurfing's Lola Ogunnaike, "Now, this is interesting that we're watching this scene because I'd been married for 10 years, I was single for 10 years and making a mess of my personal life, in and out of relationships and not being able to make anything work."
He continued, "And when the first draft of the script, or the draft we were going to shoot, Harry and Sally don't get together. They meet each other years later and walk their separate ways."
Castle Rock/Nelson/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
That all changed when he met his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
"I met my wife while making the movie and we changed the ending and this is what we came up with," Reiner said. "Billy came up with some of this dialogue and that's how we decided to end the movie, that they do end up together."
Rob married photographer Michele Singer in 1989. The couple welcomed three children during their marriage: sons Jake and Nick, and daughter Romy.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
They shared three children
Jake Reiner, the couple's eldest son, has worked primarily behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. He has served as a producer and production executive, including on projects connected to his father's work, and has largely maintained a private personal life.
In June 2023, Rob and Jake told PEOPLE that they'dattended a baseball gamein every U.S. city where the MLB hosts a team. "There's nothing like the ballpark," Rob said at the time.
The father and son duo, also both actors, share a mutual love for America's favorite pastime, a tradition that began with his dad, late actor Carl, he said. "My dad was a huge, huge baseball fan. He passed it onto me, and I passed it onto Jake."
Nick Reiner
Nick Reiner, their middle child, has been the most publicly outspoken of the siblings. He has spoken candidly about his past struggles with drug addiction and homelessness, beginning in his early teens.
In a 2016interview with PEOPLE, Nick spoke about his years-long struggle with drug addiction, which began in his early teens and eventually left him living on the streets. He said he cycled in and out of rehab beginning around age 15, but as his addiction escalated, he drifted farther from home and spent significant stretches homeless in multiple states.
Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic
Nick told PEOPLE that thechaotic period of addiction— including nights and sometimes weeks sleeping outside — later became the basis for the semi-autobiographical filmBeing Charlie, which he co-wrote and which was directed by his father.
"Now, I've been home for a really long time, and I've sort of gotten acclimated back to being in L.A. and being around my family," Nick told PEOPLE at the time.
Rob Reiner has spoken openly about supporting his son through recovery, while also reflecting on the emotional challenges addiction placed on their family.
Romy Reiner
Romy Reiner, the youngest of the three children, has largely stayed out of the public eye. She has occasionally appeared alongside her parents at events but has not pursued a public career in entertainment.
In addition to his children with Michele, Rob Reiner has a daughter, Tracy Reiner, from his first marriage to actress and filmmakerPenny Marshall. Rob married Marshall in 1971 and adopted her daughter, Tracy, from a previous marriage to Michael Henry. Rob and Marshall divorced in 1981.
Read the original article onPeople
