Just hours before he and his wife were found dead in their Los Angeles home, celebrated filmmaker Rob Reiner confessed to friends at a holiday party that he was terrified of his own son. The 78-year-old director of classics like "The Princess Bride" and "When Harry Met Sally" made the chilling admission at comedian Conan O'Brien's gathering on Saturday night, according to multiple reports.
A Fatal Night at the Holiday Party
According to the Daily Mail, Reiner told friends at the star-studded event, "I can't believe I'm going to say this but I'm afraid of my own son. I think my own son can hurt me." His son, 32-year-old screenwriter Nick Reiner, was also present at the party with his parents. Witnesses described Nick's behaviour as deeply unsettling, with one attendee telling the New York Times that people were aware of his history with drug abuse and that he was "hovering at the fringes" of the gathering.
Another partygoer told PEOPLE magazine that "Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous." The Wall Street Journal reported that Nick allegedly approached guests, including Saturday Night Live alum Bill Hader, repeatedly asking three questions: "What's your name? What's your last name? Are you famous?" Hader reportedly found the interaction "scary," according to WSJ reporter John Jurgensen.
Escalating Tensions and a Tragic Outcome
The situation reportedly escalated to the point where some guests considered calling emergency services. An insider told the Daily Mail that an argument between Nick and his father became so loud that someone wanted to call police, but Conan O'Brien intervened, saying, "It's my house, my party, I'm not calling the police." Another source said the conversation shifted to getting Nick placed on a mental-health hold.
Tragically, the early hours of Sunday, December 19, 2025, would see the horrific culmination of these fears. Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found murdered in their Beverly Hills home. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later listed the cause of death for both as "multiple sharp force injuries." Their daughter, Romy, discovered her father's body.
Arrest, Charges, and a Troubled History
Nick Reiner was arrested late Sunday night outside a gas station and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He appeared in court on Wednesday, December 22, where he did not enter a plea and was seen wearing a suicide prevention vest. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.
As investigators search for a motive, TMZ reported that Nick was being treated for schizophrenia at a facility costing over $70,000 per month and that new medication was making him "erratic and dangerous." Sources told the outlet that his parents had been "anguishing to friends" in recent months over his mental illness and alleged substance abuse, feeling at their "wits' end." Nick had been open about past drug use and multiple rehab stints.
In a disturbing twist, a mockumentary-style YouTube video from a channel appearing to belong to Nick resurfaced. In it, a character he plays raps, "you're gonna have to bail me outta jail." Hotel staff in Santa Monica also reported finding a shower "full of blood" in a room Nick had checked into around 4 a.m. Sunday.
The couple's surviving children, Romy and Jake, released a heartbroken statement, calling their parents "our best friends" and thanking the public for support. The Hollywood community and fans worldwide are mourning the loss of the influential filmmaker and his wife, while grappling with the tragic and complex circumstances surrounding their deaths.
