Hollywood director Rob Reiner has died after his son Nick was arrested for the murder of Reiner and his wife.
Reiner’s Legacy and “Being Charlie”
Rob Reiner directed the 2015 film “Being Charlie,” which was co-written by his son and based on Nick’s struggles with addiction and homelessness. Douglas Shaffer, the film’s executive producer, said the project was a way for Reiner to bond with his son and help him in his film career.
Shaffer explained, “He made that movie for Nick. That was like his love letter to him because I think he wanted to help him,” and added, “He wanted to bond with him more, but he also wanted to help him in his film career and he you know, through the process of making the movie, he wanted to kind of understand more what Nick was going through.”
During a private screening, Reiner described the movie as the best working experience of his life. Shaffer recalled that Reiner said, “Because he got to work with his kid, he was so proud of his son and things like that. I was just like, God, I have so much respect for this guy. Because again, he did this all for his kid.”
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The son of Rob and Michele Reiner was taken into custody in Exposition Park after his parents’ bodies were found on Sunday. Nick Reiner was arrested Sunday and made a brief court appearance Wednesday. He did not enter a plea on the two counts of first-degree murder he faces in the killing of his parents.
Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, told the court it was “too early” to enter a guilty or not guilty plea and agreed to delay the arraignment until Jan. 7, 2026. During the short hearing, Nick appeared from behind the glass wall of a custody area in shackles and wearing a jail suicide prevention smock. He only said “yes, your honor” when Judge Theresa McGonigle asked if he understood he has the right to a speedy trial.
Reactions from Douglas Shaffer
Shaffer said he was shocked when he first learned Nick was suspected of the murder. He recalled, “I mean, when I first heard, I thought it might’ve been like a home invasion thing,” and added, “And I think that’s just got to be kind of mind-blowing to see that act of violence come out of him. I just didn’t see it coming.”
He also reflected on Nick’s long-standing struggles with drug addiction, which began in his teens. In a 2016 interview with People, Nick said he cycled in and out of treatment facilities with bouts of homelessness and relapses in between.
Shaffer concluded, “There’s only so much outside forces can do and I think with Rob and Nick, I think Rob was doing everything he could to try to help him,” and added, “And I think that’s the tragedy of it, is the parents love their child unconditionally and then you have something so tragic.”
Key Takeaways
- Rob Reiner died after his son Nick was charged with murdering the couple.
- The film “Being Charlie” was a personal project aimed at bonding and supporting Nick.
- Legal proceedings are ongoing, with arraignment postponed until January 2026.
Keenan Willard reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.
