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Michele Singer Reiner

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Michele Reiner (née Singer; March 3, 1955 – December 14, 2025) was an American photographer, political activist, and film producer. She was the wife of filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner. Reiner was originally a photographer, taking the cover picture of The Art of the Deal (1987). She later worked on When Harry Met Sally... (1989), where she met her future husband and inspired him to revise the film's ending.

Michele Singer Reiner
Photograph of Reiner smiling
Reiner in 2016
Born
Michele Singer

(1955-03-03)March 3, 1955
New York City, U.S.
DiedDecember 14, 2025(2025-12-14) (aged 70)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of deathSharp force injuries
EducationSchool of Visual Arts
Occupations
  • Photographer
  • film producer
  • political activist
Years active1987–2025
OrganizationCastle Rock Entertainment
Spouse
​
(m. 1989)​
Children3

Reiner expanded into political activism with her husband and moved into producing in the 2010s, for which she was nominated at the Primetime Emmy Awards for producing Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023). She frequently collaborated with her husband and was the co-president of Castle Rock Entertainment. On December 14, 2025, Reiner and her husband were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Early life and education

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Michele Singer was born on March 3, 1955.[a][10] She was born into a Jewish family. Her mother Nicole Bernheim Silberkleit (née Bernheim[11]) was a Holocaust survivor. At the age of 17, Silberkleit and her family were taken from their home in Strasbourg to the Drancy internment camp, and were later deported to Auschwitz concentration camp.[9] Silberkleit was the only member of her family to leave alive,[9] having escaped a death march in 1944.[8] She immigrated to the United States soon after, first living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before New York City.[8] There, she had three daughters: Michele, Suzanne and Martine.[8][9] As a child, Reiner studied in the Upper East Side in Manhattan, New York City. She attended the School of Visual Arts.[9]

Career

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Reiner began her career in photography.[12] She started as a photographer's assistant,[9] and then became a freelance photographer, including frequently for Fortune.[8] She worked on the MysteryDisc series of video games as a photographer.[12] In the 1980s, she photographed Donald Trump for the cover of his first book, The Art of the Deal (1987),[4][13][14] something she later described as "regrettable".[8] Years later, her future husband would become a well-known critic of Trump.[15][4] She also shot the real estate tycoon Samuel J. LeFrak.[9]

Rob Reiner met her on the set of When Harry Met Sally..., and she inspired him to alter the ending so that Harry and Sally entered a romantic relationship by the end of the film.[15] She worked as an actress in the Nora Ephron film Mixed Nuts (1994).[12] She collaborated with her husband on several films, including Misery, where she was a photographer,[4] and later pivoted towards producing with Shock and Awe (2017), Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023), God & Country (2024), and Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025).[4] For her work on Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, she received a nomination for Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.[16]

In 2020, Reiner and her husband signed a producing and directing deal with Warner Bros. Television by a production company under Castle Rock Entertainment,[17] which Rob helped found.[18] Reiner was the co-president of Castle Rock Entertainment along with Matthew George.[19] She also founded the production and photography company Reiner Light.[20] Reiner and her husband were executive producers on Wind River: The Next Chapter, a sequel to Wind River (2017), prior to their deaths.[21]

In addition to filmmaking and photography, Reiner was also a political activist. Rob credited Michele with being the "force" to the couple's advocacy.[8] Along with Rob, she headed a campaign in California to fund early childhood development programs by increasing tobacco taxes.[8][22] They also founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights,[22] which overturned 2008 California Proposition 8[8] and launched a federal lawsuit for same-sex marriage rights;[22] Reiner was an LGBTQ rights activist.[14] Her and Rob's advocacy helped achieve the landmark decision to allow marriage equality across the United States, with Kelley Robinson saying "they remained committed to the cause until their final days."[14] Later in her life, she focused on supporting those wrongfully incarcerated, working with the Innocence Project.[8] Her advocacy for various social justice issues was inspired by her mother, who survived the Holocaust.[14]

Personal life

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Michele and Rob Reiner at LBJ Presidential Library for a screening of his film 'LBJ', 2016

Reiner was fluent in French and Spanish.[9] She met her future husband Rob Reiner on the set of When Harry Met Sally... (1989). The eponymous character Harry, a "miserable, divorced, Jewish romantic lead", was based on Rob. Rob had intended to call Michelle Pfeiffer after reading about her divorce in a magazine, to which Barry Sonnenfeld, the film's photography director, said, "You're not going to call her, you're going to marry my friend Michele Singer".[15] They married in 1989,[23] in a private ceremony in Hawaii witnessed by two strangers, including an elderly woman who told Rob she was a fan of The Princess Bride.[9] They had three children:[23] Jake (b. 1991), Nick (b. 1993), and Romy (b. 1997).[4]

Michele and Rob's eldest son Jake has been involved in filmmaking and was a news reporter in Houston, Texas.[24][25][26] Second son Nick entered the first of a number of stays in drug rehab at the age of 14,[27] cycling "in and out of rehab" subsequently for years, and was even homeless at times.[27] He has been arrested and charged for the murder of his parents.[28] Their youngest child, daughter Romy, is a filmmaker and had a very close relationship with them.[26] Romy discovered her father's body in their Brentwood home soon after the killing.[29]

Death

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Main article: Killing of Rob and Michele Reiner

Reiner and her husband were due to have dinner with Michelle and Barack Obama on the evening of December 14, 2025. That afternoon, a massage therapist came to their Brentwood, Los Angeles, residence for a previously scheduled appointment for the couple, and was met with a lack of response; she then called the couple's daughter Romy.[30] Romy, who lived nearby, arrived quickly at around 3 p.m., and discovered the bodies. Her friend then called 911.[31] Contrary to early reports, a source revealed to the New York Times on December 16, 2025, that Romy, who arrived at her parents' shared home with her roommate, only discovering Rob's body before fleeing the home in panic, having no knowledge that her mother was even in the home at the time and Michele's death being revealed to her later by the massage therapist.[30][32][33]

Reiner and her husband were murdered early in the morning on December 14 from multiple stab wounds.[31][3] She was 70.[a] At the time of their death, they had been married for 36 years.[34] Their son Nick was soon arrested on suspicion of murder.[6] On December 17, 2025, Michele and Rob's other two children Jake and Romy released a joint statement calling their parents their "best friends."[35] Several prominent figures extended tributes towards Reiner and her husband, including Nancy Pelosi, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Laurie David.[4] Rita Wilson, who was friends with Reiner, wrote that she was an "enormously talented photographer" and praised her producing work.[18] Kelley Robinson, the president of LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, thanked Reiner for her allyship and support of the community, while Dustin Lance Black, another LGBTQ activist, said "the world has lost two of its greatest champions of justice, love and equality".[14] Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called Reiner an "iconic photographer and producer".[36]

 
Rob Reiner with one of the couple's sons, Nick, at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2016 Voice Awards event

The Los Angeles Police Department opened a homicide investigation into their deaths and on December 16, 2025, her son Nick was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders.[37][38] Nick would then make his first court appearance on the murder charges on December 17, 2025, with the appearance only being brief and not seeing him enter any plea.[39][40] Nick's official arraignment is set to be held in January 2026.[41]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Ref.
1990 Misery Special photographer [4]
1994 Mixed Nuts Actress [12]
2017 Shock and Awe Producer [4]
2023 Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
2024 God & Country
2025 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
TBA Wind River: The Next Chapter † Executive producer [21]

Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations received by Michele Singer Reiner
Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Primetime Emmy Awards 2024 Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Nominated [42]
Producers Guild of America Awards 2024 Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television Albert Brooks: Defending My Life Nominated [43]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b News outlets initially reported her age at death as 68[1][2][3] and 70.[4][5][6] The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office lists her age at 70.[7] Subsequent articles put Michele's age at death as 70, making her birth year 1955.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ Halpert, Madeline; Morris, Regan (December 15, 2025). "Rob Reiner's son Nick arrested on suspicion of murder after director and wife found dead". BBC News. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  2. ^ Sundby, Alex (December 15, 2025). "Nick Reiner, son of Rob Reiner and wife Michele, arrested for murder in their deaths, held without bail". CBS News. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Cain, Sian (December 14, 2025). "Director and actor Rob Reiner found dead at home with wife Michele Singer Reiner". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rottenberg, Josh (December 15, 2025). "Michele Singer Reiner, photographer and creative partner to Rob Reiner, dead at 70". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  5. ^ Wilker, Deborah (December 14, 2025). "Rob Reiner, 'When Harry Met Sally,' 'The Princess Bride' and 'Stand by Me' Director and 'All in the Family' Actor, Dies at 78 in Apparent Homicide". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Reiners' Son Arrested in Deaths of His Parents". The New York Times. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  7. ^ "Michele Reiner". Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Minsberg, Talya (December 21, 2025). "A Life Rooted in Activism and Listening to Others". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 21, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gonzalez, Sandra (December 19, 2025). "Remembering Michele Reiner: Photographer, activist and 'irate citizen'". CNN. Archived from the original on December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  10. ^ Sengwe, Stephanie (December 15, 2025). "Look Back at Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner's Family Photos". People. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "Nicole Silberkleit Bernheim". Yad Vashem.
  12. ^ a b c d Harvey, Lex (December 15, 2025). "Michele Singer Reiner, dead at 67, made her own mark on Hollywood and political activism". CNN. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  13. ^ Tasker, John Paul (December 15, 2025). "Trump wildly claims Rob Reiner's death a result of 'Trump derangement syndrome'". CBC. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e Schoenbaum, Hannah; Brumfield, Sarah (December 16, 2025). "Michele Singer Reiner, photographer who inspired 1980s rom-com's happy end, dies". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c Freeman, Hadley (July 19, 2018). "'I want everyone to be happy': how Rob Reiner became a great director – and a political hero". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  16. ^ Salam, Maya; Marshall, Alex (December 15, 2025). "Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner: A Love Story That Changed Movie History". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  17. ^ Low, Elaine (October 1, 2020). "Rob and Michele Reiner's New Production Company Ink Overall Deal With Warner Bros. Television". Variety. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Rob Reiner, wife Michele Singer's son was 'responsible' for their deaths". USA Today. December 15, 2025. Archived from the original on December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  19. ^ McClintock, Pamela (October 19, 2021). "Rob Reiner's Castle Rock Revives Film Division With $175M Fund". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  20. ^ Halpert, Madeline; Morris, Regan (December 16, 2025). "Rob Reiner's son Nick arrested on suspicion of murder after director and wife found dead". BBC News. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  21. ^ a b Lang, Brent (March 7, 2023). "Jason Clarke, Scott Eastwood, Chaske Spencer Starring in 'Wind River' Sequel". Variety. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  22. ^ a b c Andreeva, Nellie (October 1, 2020). "Rob & Michele Reiner Relaunch Castle Rock Banner With Overall Deal At Warner Bros TV". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  23. ^ a b Hanlon, Greg (December 14, 2025). "Rob Reiner and His Wife Michele Were Found Dead by Their Daughter (Exclusive Sources)". People. Archived from the original on December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  24. ^ Garcia, Ariana (December 15, 2025). "Former Houston reporter Jake Reiner mourns parents found dead in LA". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  25. ^ Horton, Michael (December 15, 2025). "'We stand with him': Houston Police Union pays respect to former KPRC 2 reporter Jake Reiner after Rob Reiner's death". KPRC-TV. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  26. ^ a b Blair, Caroline (December 15, 2025). "Rob Reiner's 4 Kids: All About Nick, Romy, Jake and Tracy". People. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  27. ^ a b Anderson, Eric (December 16, 2025). "Rob Reiner, Wife Michele 'Tried Everything' to Help Son Nick Before They Died in 'Nightmare' Murder (Exclusive Sources)". People. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  28. ^ Park, Aditi Sangal, Hanna (December 16, 2025). "Rob and Michele Reiner's son charged with murder in their deaths". CNN. Retrieved December 17, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Pulver, Andrew (December 17, 2025). "New details emerge of how Rob and Michele Singer Reiner's bodies were found". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  30. ^ a b Hubler, Shawn; Stevens, Matt (December 16, 2025). "Reiner Family Associate Details Events Before and After Killings Were Discovered". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  31. ^ a b Sangal, Aditi; Romine, Taylor; Tsui, Karina (December 17, 2025). "What we know about the fatal stabbings of Rob and Michele Reiner and the case against their son". CNN. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  32. ^ McCarthy, Amy (December 16, 2025). "Rob Reiner's Daughter Found Dad's Body After Massage Therapist Called Her, Didn't Know Mom Was Also Dead in House: Report". People. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  33. ^ Pierre, Mekishana (December 17, 2025). "Rob Reiner's daughter Romy reportedly discovered only his body before fleeing his home". Entertainment Weekly.
  34. ^ Saad, Nardine (December 16, 2025). "What we know about Nick Reiner, son arrested in death of director Rob Reiner". BBC News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  35. ^ Shapiro, Emily (December 17, 2025). "Rob and Michele Reiner's children speak out after Nick Reiner's arrest on murder charges". ABC News. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  36. ^ Lombardo, Clare (December 16, 2025). "Nick Reiner will be charged with first degree murder in his parents' killing". NPR. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  37. ^ Bryson Taylor, Derrick (December 16, 2025). "Nick Reiner, Charged in Deaths of His Parents: What We Know". The New York Times.
  38. ^ Lavietes, Matt; Stelloh, Tim (December 16, 2025). "Nick Reiner to be charged with murder in death of parents, officials say". NBC News. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  39. ^ Nick, Arango (December 17, 2025). "Reiner's Son Appears, Briefly, Before a Judge". The New York Times. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  40. ^ Dalton, Andrew; Weber, Christopher (December 16, 2025). "Rob Reiner's son Nick set to appear in court on 2 counts of murder in killing of his parents". Associated Press. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  41. ^ Dallow, Lily (December 17, 2025). "Official cause of death revealed for Rob and Michele Reiner". KTLA. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  42. ^ "Michele Reiner". Television Academy. Archived from the original on August 14, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  43. ^ Davis, Clayton (January 12, 2024). "PGA Awards Nominations: 'Anatomy of a Fall' and 'Zone of Interest' Make History and Join 'Barbie,' 'Oppenheimer' and More". Variety. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
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