Three months before Rob and Michele Reiner were tragically murdered, the filmmaker had a positive update on their son Nick.
As we’ve been reporting, the 32-year-old struggled with drug addiction and mental health issues for years. He entered rehab for the first time at only 15 years old and went on to return 16 times after that. But when Rob spoke with NPR’s Fresh Air in September while promoting Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, he had good news about his son — he hadn’t done drugs in years and was doing well.
Nick came up in the conversation when Terry Gross asked him about Being Charlie, the 2015 film he collaborated on with Nick about addiction and homelessness, based on his son’s own experience. In the interview, Rob insisted his relationship with Nick is nothing like the father-son one in the film:
“I was never, ever too busy. I mean, if anything, I was the other way, you know, I was more hands-on and trying to do whatever I thought I could do to help. I’m sure I made mistakes and, you know, I’ve talked about that with him since.”
Related: Rob Reiner’s Son Once Revealed He Lost Virginity At 14 To ‘Cherry Red’ After Stealing Parents’ Cash
And at the time, Rob thought Nick was doing really well. He added:
“He’s been great … hasn’t been doing drugs for over six years. He’s in a really good place.”
However, behind closed doors, things did not seem really OK with Nick and the Reiner family. Nick was seen scowling in pictures at the premiere of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues that same month. It is unknown exactly why. Since the murders, it has been reported that he was living in his parents’ guest house, but Rob and Michele may have wanted him out because “his drug use was getting worse” — not to mention some alarming alleged behavior toward his sister.
A family friend also claimed there was “some sort of fight on Thanksgiving weekend,” and Michele said “it was really bad between Rob and Nick.” Was the tension because of Nick using drugs or his parents wanting to kick him out? The pair then got into a “very loud argument” again, this time at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party on Saturday night. And we all know what sadly happened afterward…
Michele and Rob were found dead, with their throats slit, at their Brentwood home the next day. Their daughter, Romy Reiner, discovered the gruesome scene, something no one should ever have to experience in their lives. How awful. Nick was arrested on Sunday and will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance alleging multiple murders. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman also revealed he faces a special allegation that he used a knife in the crime.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing substance abuse, help is available. Consider checking out the resources SAMHSA provides at or check out StartYourRecovery.org.
[Image via MEGA/WENN, Michele Reiner/Instagram]
