Figures from Hollywood and US politics have paid tribute and expressed shock after acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their Los Angeles home.
Police launched a homicide investigation after saying a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman were pronounced dead at a house in an upmarket neighbourhood of LA on Sunday.
Reiner is known for directing classic films in a variety of genres, including When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery and A Few Good Men,as well as for championing liberal causes and Democratic politics.
Spinal Tap star Christopher Guest and his wife Jamie Lee Curtis said they were “numb”, while former President Barack Obama said he and wife Michelle were “heartbroken”.
Police said no-one had been arrested and that no suspect or person of interest was currently being sought, but did not give further details of the circumstances.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told the BBC they received a call at about 15:38 local time (23:38 GMT) for medical aid to a home in Brentwood, a neighbourhood that is home to many celebrities.
Those paying tribute included author Stephen King, whose books provided the basis for both Misery and Stand By Me, and who said he was “horrified and saddened” by the news.
“Wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker (including 2 of mine),” he wrote. “Rest in peace, Rob. You always stood by me.”
Director Ron Howard said: “He proved to be a superlative filmmaker, a supportive colleague and at all times a dedicated citizen.
“Rob will be missed on so many levels. My heart goes out to his family and his many close friends.”
Sir Elton John, who made an appearance in this year’s Spinal Tap sequel, said: “I am in disbelief at today’s news of Rob and Michele.
“They were two of the most beautiful people I’d ever met and they deserved better.”
‘A great man’
Monty Python star Eric Idle wrote on X that he had spoken to Reiner “for over an hour” the previous night. The two first met 50 years ago, Idle said, and Reiner was “a clever, talented and very thoughtful man”.
Kathy Bates, who starred in Reiner’s film Misery in 1990, told NBC News in a statement that Reiner had “changed the course of my life”. The late director was “a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist”, and his wife Michele was a “gifted photographer”, Bates said.
Fellow actor John Cusack, who appeared in Reiner’s 1985 film The Sure Thing,called him “a great man”, while Elijah Wood, who starred in 1994’s North, said he was “horrified” by the couple’s deaths.
The Princess Bride star Cary Elwes posted a photo of chairs bearing both of their names on the film’s set along with the caption: “No words…”
James Woods, who was nominated for an Oscar for starring in Reiner’s 1996 drama Ghosts of Mississippi, said he was “devastated by this terrible event”.
Comedy star and director Ben Stiller said it was “a huge loss”. Stiller said Reiner had “made some of the most formative movies for my generation”, explaining: “Spinal Tap is one of the best comedies ever made – and the list goes on.”
‘Absolute shock’
Mira Sorvino, who appeared with Reiner in the 2020 TV series Hollywood, said she was “in absolute shock”.
“Rob Reiner was a legend and a kind, brilliant man, a wonderful actor to work opposite on Hollywood, an iconic director,” she wrote.
“His wife Michele was a lovely generous person – I wish I had been able to get to know her better. The world has lost two tremendous humans.”
Frozen actor Josh Gad described Reiner as “one of the greatest directors of our time”, adding: “Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were two of the most kind and caring souls you could ever imagine. He cared so much for those who had no voices.”
A family spokesperson confirmed the couple’s death in a statement to US media.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” it said. “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
In a news conference on Sunday night, the LAPD did not offer any details about the deaths or what they found when they responded.
Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said both bodies were still inside the house, more than six hours after police and firefighters had been called.
Sunday night’s police press conference also did not yield any details about any injuries the pair sustained, nor if any weapon was found or used. Hamilton said a cause of death would be determined by the LA coroner’s office.
Reiner, the son of comedy great Carl Reiner, started his career in the 1960s and made it big playing Meathead in groundbreaking TV sitcom All in The Family in the 1970s.
The programme was a US remake of British comedy Till Death Us Do Part, and scored him two Emmy Awards.
Reiner achieved futher success with cult mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap in 1984, which he directed as well as playing on-screen director Marty DiBergi.
That began a run of classic Hollywood movies directed by Reiner, including Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990) and A Few Good Men (1992), the latter of which scored him an Academy Award nomination for best picture.
He reunited with Spinal Tap for long-awaited sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which was released in September.
As an actor, he also appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street, Postcards from the Edge and Bullets Over Broadway, as well as TV shows including New Girl and The Bear.
‘Powerful voice’
Reiner also co-founded the successful Castle Rock Entertainment production company.
He was married to Laverne & Shirley actress Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981 and is the adoptive father to Marshall’s daughter, actress Tracy Reiner.
He married Michele Reiner, an actress, photographer and producer, in 1989, later recalling that they met during the making of When Harry Met Sally. The couple have three children together.
Michele owned the Reiner Light photography agency and production house.
Reiner was also an active campaigner for social and political causes, and for Democratic political candidates.
Politicians who paid their own tributes include Obama, who said: “Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen.
“But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people – and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.”
Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, said: “It’s hard to think of anyone more remarkable and excellent in every field and endeavor they pursued. Rob was creative, funny, and beloved. And in all of their endeavors, Michelle was his indispensable partner, intellectual resource, and loving wife.”
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom said: “Rob was a passionate advocate for children and for civil rights – from taking on Big Tobacco, fighting for marriage equality, to serving as a powerful voice in early education.”
LA mayor Karen Bass called the incident a “devastating loss for our city and country”, and paid tribute to the couple’s charity work for childhood development and LGBTQ+ advocacy.