Billy Crystal and Larry David were seen arriving separately at Rob Reiner’s home in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles on Sunday evening, hours after authorities began investigating the deaths of Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in what police have described as a homicide.
A source told People that Crystal, 77, and David, 78, came to the property after news spread that the couple had been found dead inside the house. A neighbour who spoke to ABC7 said Crystal “looked like he was about to cry”.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded at about 3:38pm to a medical aid call at a home in the 250 block of Chadbourne Avenue, where firefighters found a man, 78, and a woman, 68, dead. Authorities did not initially identify the pair publicly, but multiple outlets including the Associated Press cited a law-enforcement source confirming the victims were Reiner and his wife.
Police said the investigation developed into a murder case. ABC7 reported that officials held a press conference on Sunday night and said they had not identified a suspect and nobody was in custody. The Reiner family issued a statement confirming the deaths, saying: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Details of how the couple died have not been formally released by police, but ABC News and ABC7, citing senior law-enforcement sources, reported they were stabbed. The Associated Press reported that authorities believed the couple had suffered stab wounds and that a family member was being questioned. Sky News, citing US reporting, also said a family member was being questioned.
People reported that other sources told the outlet the couple were killed by their son, Nick Reiner, though it also noted that law enforcement had not publicly confirmed such an account. Because the investigation remains active and official information is limited, police have not publicly laid out a clear timeline of events leading up to the deaths or the circumstances inside the home.
The presence of Crystal and David at the property underscored Reiner’s long-standing ties within Hollywood, where he was known both for his work as a director and for his earlier success as an actor. Reiner rose to fame in the 1970s playing Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family, before moving behind the camera and building one of the most recognisable filmographies of his era.
As a director, Reiner’s credits spanned comedy, romance, drama and courtroom thrillers. His debut feature This Is Spinal Tap became a cult classic, while later films including Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally…, Misery and A Few Good Men helped define modern American popular cinema. His work frequently blended sharp dialogue with character-driven storytelling, and his films drew acclaimed performances from major stars across multiple decades.
Crystal and Reiner had collaborated professionally over many years. People reported that Reiner worked with Crystal on projects including When Harry Met Sally, This Is Spinal Tap and The Princess Bride. Their relationship extended beyond a single film, reflecting the way Reiner often built lasting partnerships with performers and writers across different periods of his career.
David’s connection to Reiner was also long-running. People noted that Reiner made an appearance on David’s HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a show known for bringing well-known figures into its storylines in versions of themselves. Reiner’s involvement in the series reflected his continued presence in television and comedy circles even decades after his initial breakout on All in the Family.
In the hours after the deaths were reported, tributes began to emerge from public officials and figures connected to Reiner’s career. ABC News reported Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the deaths as a major loss, saying: “This is a devastating loss for our city and our country.” Such statements appeared alongside the family’s request for privacy, as authorities continued to limit what they said publicly about the case.
Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner married in 1989 and had three children together, according to ABC7. People and other reports said the couple were well known in Los Angeles for their public life and relationships within the entertainment industry.
The deaths have unsettled the generally quiet Brentwood area, a neighbourhood associated with high-profile residents. With investigators treating the matter as a homicide, police have not indicated whether they believe the attack was targeted, whether there were signs of forced entry, or whether any weapon has been recovered. ABC7 said the investigation began as a death investigation before becoming a murder case, suggesting that initial information provided to emergency responders did not fully capture what officers later believed had occurred.
Authorities have not said whether Crystal and David spoke to investigators or whether their visits were purely personal. People reported both men arrived separately on the night of Sunday, 14 December, and that they were seen at the home after the news broke. Their appearance came at a moment when police activity around the property had drawn attention, with media crews and onlookers gathering as updates emerged.
Reiner’s career had remained active into recent years, and he continued to appear at events tied to his film work and to broader entertainment causes. ABC News and others reported that Reiner was 78, which aligns with his public biography and recent appearances. While police have not publicly confirmed a motive or announced any charges, investigators are expected to continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing any available evidence, including possible surveillance footage from the area, phone records, and forensic findings from the scene.
For now, official statements have remained narrow: two people were found dead in a home in Brentwood; police are investigating as a homicide; and the family has confirmed the deaths while asking for privacy. The sight of Crystal and David at the house offered a public glimpse of how swiftly Reiner’s friends and collaborators responded as the investigation began, but key facts about what happened inside the home, and who may be responsible, remain for detectives to establish.
