Director Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Singer Found Fatally Stabbed in Los Angeles Home

The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a homicide investigation after filmmaker Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Singer, 68, were discovered dead inside their Brentwood residence on Sunday afternoon. Family members confirmed the deaths in a written statement, describing the loss as sudden and asking for privacy.

Officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 3:40 p.m. PT. On arrival, they located a man and a woman with apparent stab wounds. Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced both victims dead at the scene. Property records list Reiner and Singer as owners of the single-family home, situated in a quiet residential section of Brentwood where the couple has lived for decades.

Senior detectives from the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division took charge of the inquiry. During a brief news conference Sunday night, officials said no suspect had been identified and no one was in custody. Investigators did not release information regarding a possible motive, and no signs of forced entry were described publicly. Authorities asked nearby residents to review home-surveillance footage and to report any suspicious activity observed in the neighborhood over the weekend.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass characterized the killings as an immense blow to the city and the nation, underscoring Reiner’s influence on American film and social activism. California Governor Gavin Newsom also issued a statement expressing sorrow, noting the director’s “remarkable filmography” and longstanding support for social and economic justice causes.

Reiner’s career spans more than five decades. He first gained national attention portraying “Meathead” on the television sitcom All in the Family from 1971 to 1978. Transitioning behind the camera, he directed a succession of critically acclaimed and commercially successful motion pictures, including This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand By Me (1986), When Harry Met Sally… (1989), The Princess Bride (1987) and A Few Good Men (1992). His films collectively helped define several genres, from mockumentary to romantic comedy.

Singer, a photographer and producer, married Reiner in 1989. The couple share three adult children: Jake, Nick and Romy. Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall, who died in 2018. The Reiners owned two houses across the same Brentwood street, one occupied by the couple and another by their adult daughter and her children. Neighbors said the family was well-known on the block and frequently hosted gatherings.

Shortly after police arrived, longtime friends and collaborators, including actors Billy Crystal and Larry David, were seen outside the residence, according to a neighbor who spoke with investigators. The block remained cordoned off through the evening while forensic teams collected evidence and canvassed for witnesses.

Imagem: Internet

The attack comes amid broader concerns about violent crime in Los Angeles, though the city has recorded a slight decline in homicides this year compared with 2024, according to preliminary LAPD statistics published earlier this month. Further data are available on the department’s official crime-statistics portal.

Reiner, the son of legendary comedian Carl Reiner and performer Estelle Lebost Reiner, maintained a substantial public profile outside entertainment. He was an outspoken advocate for voting rights, early childhood development and gun-safety legislation. Colleagues within the entertainment community praised his ability to merge art with civic engagement, recalling that he often used premieres and award-season platforms to highlight policy issues.

The LAPD asked anyone with information about the homicides to contact the Robbery-Homicide Division or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers. Detectives indicated that additional updates would be provided once autopsy results are complete and any suspect information arises.

Funeral arrangements for Reiner and Singer have not been announced. The family said plans would be shared at a later date.

Crédito da imagem: David Livingston/Getty Images