Hollywood has been plunged into mourning with the tragic passing of two of its legendary fixtures, Rob and Michele Singer Reiner.
Rob, the actor-director known for timeless, feel-good classics “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride”, and his photographer-producer wife were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home on Sunday.
They were 78 and 68, respectively.
Their 32-year-old son, Nick, was arrested hours later for the alleged murder of his parents.
He has since been remanded in jail in LA without bail.
Romy and Jake Reiner speak of ‘horrific and devastating loss’
Rob and Michele’s two other children, Romy and Jake Reiner, called their parents’ deaths “horrific and devastating”, and asked for respect and privacy as they try to cope with their loss.
According to US media reports, 28-year-old Romy — the Reiners’ youngest daughter — was the one who found her filmmaker father’s lifeless body.
She later found out from the responding paramedics that her mother had also died.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” the Reiner siblings wrote in a statement released Wednesday.
“The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
They also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support not only from family and friends but also from people from all walks of life.
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Close friends lead tributes
Rob’s close friends in show business, including Billy Crystal, Albert Brooks, Martin Short, and Larry David, paid tribute to the late power couple in a joint statement sent to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
“Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master story teller,” read the statement, also signed by Janice Crystal, Kimberly Brooks, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Ashley Underwood, Marc Shaiman and Lou Mirabal, Barry and Diana Levinson, and Ambassador James Costos and Michael Smith.
“There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary he was always at the top of his game.”
“He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films.”
The statement described Rob as a “passionate, brave citizen” who cared so much for his country, and Michele as a “perfect partner”.
“Strong and determined, Michele and Rob Reiner devoted a great deal of their lives for the betterment of our fellow citizens… Rob and Michele were a special force together — dynamic, unselfish and inspiring. We were their friends, and we will miss them forever,” it added.
Nick Reiner faces murder charges
Nick, the Reiners’ middle child, appeared before the Los Angeles County Superior Court wearing an anti-suicide smock on Wednesday, a day after he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of his parents.
Nick’s arraignment was deferred to January 7 next year at the behest of his lawyer, Alan Jackson, who previously defended disgraced Hollywood figures Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
Jackson said there were “very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case” that needed to be analysed thoroughly.
“We ask that during this process, you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward, not with the rush to judgment, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint and with dignity and with the respect that this system and this process deserves and that the family deserves,” he said when met with reporters outside the court.
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