Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were tragically murdered in their Brentwood, CA home and discovered by their daughter Romy around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, December 14. The Reiner‘s son Nick Reiner is currently being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his parents.
Now This Is Spinal Tap actors – Harry Shearer, who played bassist Derek Smalls; and Christopher Guest, who played guitarist Nigel Tufnel – have taken to their respective social medias to pay tribute to Reiner.
Shearer wrote on his Instagram: “Rob was a friend and collaborator through much of my life. He was funny, he was smart, he was a mensch. When he came to see the comedy act I was in, and, later, the musical comedy I had co-written, his laugh was uproarious and audible around the block.
“He was a great collaborator, and when the four of us proposed ideas for the films, he was the one who wrote them on 3×5 cards, and organized them into a movie. And Michele was a very good friend to my wife Judith. This is unspeakable, the stuff of Greek tragedy.”
Guest and his wife Jamie Lee Curtis wrote on Instagram: “Christopher and I are numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michele Singer Reiner and our ONLY focus and care right now is for their children and immediate families and we will offer all support possible to help them.
“There will be plenty of time later to discuss the creative lives we shared and the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage and their global care for a world in crisis. We have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve.”
Paul McCartney – who was one of the many guest actors in Spinal Tap Il: The End Continues – also paid tribute to Shearer on his Instagram, saying: “What a tragedy the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, is. It is so shocking in many ways but for me especially so, because over the last year I had been working with him. He directed me in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. He was such an upbeat, lovable man.
“Life can be so unfair and this tragedy proves it. His father, Carl Reiner, was a great humourist before him and Rob followed in his dad’s footsteps doing a terrific job making many great films. I will always have fond memories of Rob and the idea that he and his wife will no longer be in the world with us is heartbreaking.
“Thanks for all the humour, Rob. Rest in Peace. Love Paul.”
Both Rob and Michele had gotten into a “very loud argument” with Nick hours prior to the stabbings, with one close friend telling the Post: “They had had an argument at Conan‘s holiday party, and Rob had been telling people that they’re scared for Nick and scared that his mental state was deteriorating.”
The two counts of first-degree murder carry a maximum sentence of the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The New York Times further noted Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton of the Los Angeles Police Department said Nick Reiner was arrested without incident Sunday night near Exposition Park, not far from the campus of the University of Southern California.
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