The official cause of death for director Rob and his wife Michele Reiner has been revealed by authorities.
Director Rob Reiner and his wife and son Nick in a photo taken in 2013. (Photo: Getty Images for Teen Vogue)
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, documents released Wednesday indicate that Rob and his wife died from “multiple sharp object injuries.” The cause of death for both Rob and Michele was recorded as homicide.
This news was revealed just hours after Nick made his first court appearance since the deaths of his parents. Nick’s lawyer, Alan Jackson, told reporters outside the Los Angeles City Courthouse on Wednesday that the preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 7, 2026.
“First and foremost, this is a terrible tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family. We all recognize that. We offer our deepest condolences to the entire Reiner family,” said attorney Alan Jackson, noting that there are “very complex and serious issues” involved in this case.
“These cases need to be handled, considered, and analyzed thoroughly but very carefully. We request that during this process, you allow the system to operate as it was designed. Do not rush to judgment or conclusions, but exercise restraint, respect, and uphold the dignity that this system and process deserve, as well as the dignity that the family deserves.”
Earlier, on Sunday (December 14), US media reported that director Rob Reiner and his wife were found stabbed to death at their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. That same evening, their son, Nick Reiner (32), was arrested on charges of murdering his parents. According to TMZ, Rob and his wife were believed to have died hours before their daughter discovered their bodies. Nick was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder with aggravated circumstances after a press hearing on Tuesday (US time).
“These charges will be two counts of first-degree murder with the aggravating circumstance of multiple murders,” Los Angeles County Judge Nathan Hochman told reporters. “He also faces the special charge that he personally used a dangerous weapon and committed murder, which was a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. No decision has been made regarding the death penalty at this time.”
According to a source who spoke to The Post, the day before the tragic incident, Nick – who had struggled with drug addiction for years – had a major argument with his parents at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party on Saturday night.
“They had an argument at Conan’s Christmas party. Rob told everyone they were worried about Nick and feared his mental state was deteriorating,” a source said.
According to NBC News, Nick also allegedly interrupted Bill Hader during a private conversation and exhibited erratic behavior at the celebrity party. Hader’s representative declined to comment on the allegations.
Director Rob Reiner and his wife married in 1989 after meeting on the set of the film “When Harry Met Sally”. Prior to that, Rob had been married once before and had a child from his previous marriage.
Meanwhile, following the tragic death of director Rob Reiner and his wife, their two children also issued an official statement this week regarding their family’s sad news. The statement read: “No words can express the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every single moment of every day. The terrible and heartbreaking loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something no one should ever have to go through. They were not only our parents; they were also our closest friends. We are grateful for the condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but from all walks of life. Now, we ask for our privacy to be respected, and we ask that everyone refrain from speculation with compassion and kindness, and that everyone remember our parents for the wonderful lives they lived and the love they gave.”
