- Nick Reiner was arrested for the homicide of his parents Rob and Michele.
- He has previously been candid about his struggles with addiction and bouts of homelessness throughout his life.
- Nick Reiner collaborated with his father on the semiautobiographical film “Being Charlie.”
- Witnesses reported a holiday party argument between Nick and his father before the murders.
Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of film director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday and is being held responsible for the deaths of his parents. He is currently being held without bail.
According to CNN, it is unclear whether he has retained an attorney. Authorities also have not released information about how the victims died or how it was determined that their son is responsible.
Late Tuesday, Los Angeles prosecutors said Nick Reiner will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, per reports.
Here’s a look at what we know about Nick Reiner:
Nick Reiner’s struggles with addiction and homelessness
As the son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner, Nick Reiner has spoken out multiple times over the years about his struggles with drug abuse and bouts of homelessness. He was candid about his use of multiple drugs, including methamphetamine and heroin, and his many relapses, according to NPR.
He spent years cycling in and out of rehab centers and experienced bouts of homelessness as a teenager.
In an interview in 2015, Nick Reiner said his decision to quit heroin was driven by a strong practical realization.
“I got sick of doing that,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “I come from a nice family. I’m not supposed to be out there on the streets and in homeless shelters doing all these … things.”
Rob Reiner also shared that he regretted valuing the advice of counselors over listening to his son.
“When Nick would tell us that it wasn’t working for him, we wouldn’t listen,” he said, according to the LA Times. “We were desperate and because the people had diplomas on their wall, we listened to them when we should have been listening to our son.”
Over the years, Nick Reiner talked about the many different rehab centers and programs he tried unsuccessfully. In a 2016 interview, he told People magazine that he lived on the street because he refused to go to the rehab facilities recommended by his parents.
“If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless,” he said.
Michele and Rob had three children together: Nick, another son, Jake, and a daughter, Romy.
His work with his father on their semi-autobiographical movie
After years of struggles with addiction and finally reaching sobriety, Nick Reiner worked with his father to create the movie “Being Charlie.” The movie was loosely inspired by Nick’s early life.
“Being Charlie” was released in 2015 and was directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nick Reiner and Matt Elisofon, whom he met in rehab.
The film tells the story of the entitled, drug-addicted son of a high-profile actor turned political candidate in California. While not completely autobiographical, Rob Reiner said creating the movie did a lot to strengthen his relationship with his son, per The New York Times.
“Being Charlie” was filmed in Utah in 2015. The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development approved a $265,494 tax incentive for the independent film’s production.
The movie’s filming locations were mainly around the Salt Lake City and Tooele areas.
Multiple aspects of the film were inspired by the relationship between Rob Reiner and his son, including a line where the father character tells his son, “I’d rather you hate me and you be alive,” per the LA Times.
After the film’s premiere, Nick Reiner told NPR that making the movie was part of his long recovery journey.
Since getting sober, Nick Reiner praised his parents for helping him reach sobriety but emphasized that he was trying to forge his own life.
Nick Reiner’s behavior at a recent holiday party
According to The New York Times, Nick Reiner’s most recent public appearance with his father was in September, when Rob Reiner was joined by his family on the red carpet for the premiere of “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”
On Saturday night, one day before the Reiners were found dead, Rob, Michele and Nick were seen attending a holiday party at the home of comedian Conan O’Brien.
Multiple witnesses at the party said that the three Reiners got into an argument and Rob Reiner told his son that his behavior at the party was inappropriate, per The New York Times.
Cinematographer Barry Markowitz, a friend of the family, called them a strong, close-knit family. He also painted a positive picture of Nick Reiner, per NPR.
He said that despite going through rough times for many years, he had a “pure and gentle” soul.
“He was on the upswing. Looked like a GQ model. I wish I could give you a tidbit or something, like ‘oh, he looked bad and this and that’ — he didn’t. That’s what’s so spooky about mental illness,” Markowitz said, according to NPR.
What we know about Nick Reiner’s arrest
LAPD officers arrived at the Reiner’s Brentwood home around 3:40 p.m. on Sunday. They eventually determined the couple were victims of a homicide, per CNN.
Police said that Nick Reiner was found and arrested around 9:15 p.m.
His bail was originally set at $4 million, but jail records have since been updated and he is now being held without bail.
Los Angeles prosecutors Tuesday announced Nick Reiner will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder.