Shock and grief after director Rob Reiner and wife Michele found with knife wounds

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 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…”

Stand By Me actor Corey Feldman said: “All I can say is I’m shocked & saddened, but I #love u Rob! U will b 4ever missed!”

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.”

One Tree Hill actress Sophia Bush described Reiner as an “almost indescribably wonderful man”, who was “kind, jovial, thoughtful, and generous”.

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, adding that Michele was “a lovely generous person”.

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.

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. Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said a cause of death would be determined by the LA coroner’s office.