Five Facts About Rob Reiner's Son, Nick, Who Was Just Booked for His Father's Murder

The son of acclaimed filmmaker and "This Is Spinal Tap" actor has spent much of his life publicly grappling with addiction, instability, and a complicated relationship with his family.

At approximately 9:15 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Nick Reiner in connection with the deaths of his parents, Robert and Michele Singer Reiner.

Police later said the 32-year-old was "responsible for their deaths." This case has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and reignited public attention on a long-documented and turbulent personal history.

Below are five facts about Nick Reiner's life and background, drawn from public interviews and past reporting, that now sit alongside the grim developments of this investigation.

1. Nick Battled with Addiction

Nick's battle with addiction began early. He was sent to his first rehab facility around his 15th birthday and cycled through treatment repeatedly over the years.

In a candid interview with People, Nick described periods of homelessness that stretched across several states, "I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas. I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun."

By his early 20s, he had been in rehab many times, experiences that later became central to his creative work. As The Hollywood Reporter noted, Nick had been sober at the time after "some 18 trips to rehab."

2. Nick Once 'Wrecked' His Parents' Guest House

In a 2018 episode of the "Dopey" podcast, Nick openly discussed a severe relapse that led to extensive damage to his parents' guest house.

"Everything in the guest house got wrecked," he recalled, adding that he had "destroyed the house." Nick had been on drugs, awake for days, and remembered little from that period.

He did, however, remember punching a television, smashing lamps, and spiraling through one destructive impulse after another. When asked whether he hurt himself, he said, "I don't even remember at this point."

The podcast hosts also recalled frantic calls that morning, efforts to find him help, and arrangements for him to leave Los Angeles and enter treatment again.

3. Nick's Distant Childhood with His Father

Nick has previously spoken about a distant relationship with his father during his childhood.

In a 2016 interview discussing their collaboration on the film "Being Charlie," Nick said, "It really clicked for me because we didn't bond a lot as a kid."

He explained that their connection grew later, particularly when he saw his father engage deeply with the movie "Being Charlie" — something Nick himself cared about — which helped bridge years of emotional distance.

4. Nick Turned Years of Addiction and Recovery Into a Screenplay

Nick channeled much of his personal history into the screenplay for "Being Charlie," a film loosely based on his experiences with addiction and rehab. The movie follows the son of a would-be governor as he resists recovery at every turn.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Nick reflected on what rehab ultimately gave him. "Maybe this," he said in reference to the film. "I got sick of it. I got sick of doing that…. I come from a nice family I'm not supposed to be out there on the streets and in homeless shelters doing all these...things."

5. He Sought Independence from His Father

"Being Charlie" brought father and son closer, but Nick wanted to establish his identity outside his father's shadow. "I love working with my dad, but I need to be independent and do my own stuff," Nick said during a joint interview with his father.

Their relationship evolved during filming, as Nick recalled a specific situation:

"We were doing a scene, and I said, 'Why doesn't Charlie go up and hug his dad.' That meant a lot to my dad, because it was sort of like I was accepting him back in."

Additional Details Emerging from the Investigation

As the investigation unfolds, other reports are adding to the troubling picture. A source told Page Six that Nick "hated himself for not being as talented, prolific or beloved as his dad or grandad."

TMZ initially reported that the couple's daughter had told police a relative "should be a suspect" because they were "dangerous."

The Los Angeles Police Department's press release on Monday, December 15, 20205, announced that the 32-year-old was booked for murder and remains in custody without bail as prosecutors review the case for formal charges.

The police added that the case will be presented to the LA County District Attorney's Office for consideration of filing on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. As prosecutors prepare to review the evidence and determine whether to file formal charges, the case remains under active investigation, with authorities urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.

For now, the arrest has cast a dark shadow over a family long defined by creativity and public success, as Nick Reiner's once-public struggles now take on tragic legal consequences.