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| Rob Reiner in conversation at Montclair Film Festival Photo: Courtesy of Montclair Film Festival |
Police are investigating the deaths of the 78-year-old director of Stand By Me, This Is Spinal Tap and The Princess Bride and 68-year-old Michelle as "apparent homicide".
US news outlet ABC News was last night reporting law enforcement sources who said the couple had "been stabbed" but this has not been confirmed by the police.
In a statement, their family said: "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 began his career as a comedic actor, winning Emmys for his role in Till Death Us Do Part remake All In The Family. He stepped behind the camera for heavy metal rockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, which began a run of successful films, including fantasy The Princess Bride and coming-of-age film Stand By Me as well as horror flick Misery, romcom When Harry Met Sally and Tom Cruise's courtroom thriller A Few Good Men, for which he was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Most recently, he made Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. His second wife was an actress, photographer and producer who had worked alongside her husband on several of his movies. She also took the picture that appears on Donald Trump's book Trump: The Art Of The Deal.
The Reiners married in 1989 and had three children together. Reiner, who also founded the Castle Rock Entertainment company, was previously married to Penny Marshall, with whom he shares daughter Tracy.
The police investigation at the couple's home in Brentwood was ongoing last night., confirming the deaths as "apparent homicide".
Tributes flowed in for the pair from across the worlds of entertainment and politics. Among those paying tribute was former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
He wrote on X: "Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen. But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people - and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.
"Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them."
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass also paid tribute, saying: "Rob Reiner's contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice," she said.
"An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others."
Among those paying tribute from the entertainment world were Misery star Kathy Bates, who said: "He was brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist. He also fought courageously for his political beliefs."
Monty Python star Eric Idle wrote on X: "Rob Reiner was a lovely man. I spoke to him last night for over an hour. I always enjoyed his company. I met him at his Dad's in 1975. He was telling me about fiming at Stonehenge and his thoughts for the future. This is so awful. I shall miss him. A clever, talented and very thoughtful man. So awful."
And James Woods, James Woods, who received an Oscar nomination for his role in Reiner's 1996 drama Ghosts of Mississippi, wrote: "Political differences never stood in the way of our love and respect for each other. I am devastated by this terrible event."
Asked by Stephen Colbert at Montclair Film Festival in 2016 if he accepted being referred to as an "activist", he said: "I do accept activist". He said it stemmed from growing up in a family with arents Carl and Estelle Reiner, who were also actvisits, and noted he could have been called up to fight in the Vietnam War. "I was worked in a very political atmosphere," he said. Referencing the fight for LGBTQ+ rights over Propostion 8, also paid tribute to Michelle saying: "I can honestly say, the reason I've done so many things as I have in the political sphere is because of her because she is also very socially minded and trying to make thins better." He added she was "the Bunsen burner that lights the political flame under my ass".
Watch the full interview here.
