Hollywood director and wife Michele found dead in LA home

Legendary Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were found dead in their Los Angeles home.

Authorities are investigating the incident as an apparent homicide after police and firefighters were called to the couple’s home Sunday afternoon in an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood.

Reiner is known for directing classic films including The Princess Bride, This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, and A Few Good Men.

A family spokesman said in a statement to American media: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the tragic deaths of Michelle and Rob Reiner.”

He added: “We are deeply saddened by this sudden loss, and ask for privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”

Police said a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the home, but officers did not immediately identify the couple or the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Police also said no arrests have been made, but no suspects or persons of interest are currently being sought.

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told the BBC that they received a call at around 15:38 local time (23:38 GMT) seeking medical assistance for a home in Brentwood, a neighborhood inhabited by many celebrities.

Homicide and robbery detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department also responded to the home and opened a homicide investigation.

At a news conference Sunday evening, police did not provide any details about the deaths or what they found when they responded. Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said the two bodies were still inside the home more than six hours after police and firefighters were called.

Police also did not provide details about any injuries the couple sustained, nor whether any weapons were found or used. Hamilton said the cause of death will be determined by the Los Angeles coroner’s office.

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement confirming the death of Reiner and his wife.

Newsom said he was “heartbroken” by the deaths and called Reiner “the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love.”

The son of the great comedy star Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner began his career in the 1960s and had great success playing Meathead in the groundbreaking TV sitcom All in The Family in the 1970s.

The show was an American remake of the British comedy Till Death Us Do Part, and won two Emmy Awards.

Reiner achieved further success with the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap in 1984, which he directed and played director Marty DeBerge on screen.

This began a string of classic Hollywood films directed by Reiner, including Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990), and A Few Good Men (1992), the latter of which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

He reunited with Spinal Tap for the long-awaited sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which was released in September.

As an actor, he has also appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street, Postcards from the Edge, and Bullets Over Broadway, as well as TV shows including New Girl and The Bear.

Among those who offered condolences was former US President Barack Obama, who said that he and his wife, Michelle, felt very sad over the couple’s death.

“Rob’s achievements in film and television have given us some of our most treasured stories on screen,” he said. “But beneath all the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people — and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.

He added, “He and his wife lived a life defined by purpose. Together they will be remembered for the values ​​they stood for and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them.”

Further tributes came from the worlds of television and film, with Monty Python star Eric Idle describing Reiner as a “lovely man”.

I spoke to him last night for over an hour Idle books on X. “I always enjoyed his company.

“I met him at his father’s house in 1975. He was telling me about filming at Stonehenge and his ideas for the future. This is absolutely terrible. I will miss him. A very smart, talented, thoughtful man. Absolutely terrible.”

actor John Cusack Reiner was called a “great man” while… Elijah Wood He said he was “horrified” by the couple’s deaths.

James WoodsHe, who was nominated for an Oscar for his starring role in Reiner’s 1996 drama Ghosts of Mississippi, said he was “shocked by this terrible event.”

Comedian star and director Ben Stiller said It was a “huge loss.”

“Rob Reiner was one of my favorite directors,” he wrote. “He made some of the most formative films of my generation.

“He came out from behind the huge comedic shadow of the great Carl Reiner and being a TV actor to become a brilliant director who produced an amazing series of films.

“Spinal Tap is one of the best comedies of all time – the list goes on. He was a kind, caring person who was really funny.”

Frozen actor Josh Gad Reiner has been described as “one of the greatest directors of our time”.

“He was simply a lovely person,” he said. “Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were two of the most kind and caring souls you could ever imagine.

“He cared so much about those who did not have voices. This loss is devastating. I cannot express how painful this is. I love you, Rob and Michelle. Thank you for everything you have given us.”

Reiner also co-founded the successful production company Castle Rock Entertainment.

He was married to actress Laverne and Shirley Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981 and is the adoptive father of Marshall’s daughter, actress Tracey Reiner.

He married actress, photographer, and producer Michelle Rainer in 1989. They have three children together.

Michelle owns the photography agency and production house Reiner Light.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the incident a “devastating loss for our city and our country,” and praised the couple’s philanthropic work for childhood development and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

“Rob Reiner’s contributions resonate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved the lives of countless people through his creative work and advocacy for social and economic justice,” she said.

Reiner has also been an active activist for social and political issues and Democratic political candidates.

“Rob has been a passionate advocate for children and civil rights – from taking on Big Tobacco, fighting for marriage equality, to serving as a strong voice in early education,” Governor Newsom added.