The son of Hollywood filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents after they were found stabbed to death at their Los Angeles home, in a case that has shocked the film industry and the city.

Police arrested 32-year-old Nick Reiner on Monday and held him without bail following the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. Authorities said the case will be presented to prosecutors on Tuesday, when a decision on formal charges is expected. Investigators have not disclosed any motive.

Family representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was not clear whether Nick Reiner had legal representation.

Bodies found in Brentwood home

The bodies were discovered on Sunday afternoon at the couple’s residence in Brentwood, an affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood. Investigators believe both victims were stabbed, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official, briefed on the investigation, spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss details publicly.

Killings are rare in Brentwood. The scene is about a mile from the home where Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.

Past struggles and family portrayal on screen

Rob Reiner and his son previously explored their strained relationship and Nick Reiner’s struggles with addiction in the semi-autobiographical 2016 film “Being Charlie.” Nick Reiner has spoken publicly about his battle with drug addiction, saying he cycled in and out of treatment centres from the age of 18, with periods of homelessness and relapse.

Rob Reiner’s Hollywood legacy

Rob Reiner was among Hollywood’s most influential directors, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s. His films included “This Is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally,” and “The Princess Bride.”

He rose to fame earlier as Michael “Meathead” Stivic in the 1970s television series “All in the Family,” earning two Emmy Awards for his performance as a liberal counterpoint to Carroll O’Connor’s Archie Bunker.

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, he married photographer Michele Singer Reiner in 1989 after meeting her while directing “When Harry Met Sally.” The couple had three children: Nick, Jake and Romy.

Reiner told The New York Times in 1989 that cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld had predicted the marriage. “I look over and I see this girl, and whoo! I was attracted immediately,” Reiner said.

Michele Singer Reiner’s career

Michele Singer Reiner worked as a producer on “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” “God & Country,” “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” and “Shock and Awe,” according to IMDb. Earlier in her career, she photographed the cover of President Donald Trump’s 1987 bestseller “The Art of the Deal.”

Political reactions and tributes

On Monday, Donald Trump blamed Rob Reiner’s outspoken opposition to the president for the killings, making the unsubstantiated claim in a social media post.

Relatives of the late television producer Norman Lear, who died in 2023, said the deaths had left them devastated.

“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” a statement from Lear’s family said. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the deaths as a profound loss for the city.

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”

Family background

Rob Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981 and adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 aged 98, and Marshall died in 2018.