Hollywood director Rob Reiner and wife found dead in LA home

Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have been found dead in their Los Angeles home, with police investigating the incident as an apparent homicide.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the trafic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” a family spokesperson said in a statement. “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”

Police did not immediately identify the couple nor reveal details about the circumstances of the deaths. LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said a cause of death would be determined by the LA coroner’s office.

Reiner is a reknown director and actor, known for playing Meathead in the TV sitcom All in the Family in the 1970s. He went on to direct the cult mockumentary This is Spinal Tap in 1984, and then directed a number of classic Hollywood movies, including Stand by Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987) and When Harry Met Sally (1989).

Several tributes have started pouring in for Reiner. Former US President Barack Obama said he and his wife were heartbroken by the couple’s deaths, hailing Rob’s achievements as “some of our most cherished stories on screen”.

“Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them.”

Monty Python star Eric Idle also paid tribute to Reiner, describing him as “a clever, talented and very thoughtful man”.

LA mayor Karen Bass said the incident was a “devastating loss for our city and country” while celebrating the couple’s charity work for childhood development and LGBTIQ+ advocacy.