Conan O’Brien reveals late pal Rob Reiner will receive ‘a very powerful’ tribute at 2026 Oscars

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The upcoming ceremony for the Academy Awards will include more than just Hollywood glitz and gold statues. 

According to host Conan O’Brien, the 98th edition of Hollywood’s biggest night will carve out an emotional moment to pay tribute to his late friend, filmmaker Rob Reiner.

Speaking while helping roll out the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre on Thursday, March 12, O’Brien hinted that the segment honoring Reiner will be one of the ceremony’s most impactful moments. Chatting with Extra, the comedian admitted the tribute was "hard to sum up."

"But it's going to be a very powerful part of the show," he said. 

Behind the scenes, producers say the tribute will be an extension of the ceremony’s traditional “In Memoriam” segment. During a press conference on Wednesday, Oscars producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan explained that this year’s remembrance will run longer than usual to acknowledge the many industry legends lost over the past year.

"I guess we can't really go into detail of what it's gonna be this year, but we really hope that it is a tribute that moves people and feels like it does the incredible people we've lost this year justice," Mullan explained.

Exactly how Reiner will be honored remains under wraps.

Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner attended Conan O’Brien's party before killings

The tribute comes after a deeply personal loss for O’Brien. Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed in their Los Angeles home on December 14, just hours after the couple had attended O’Brien’s holiday party the previous evening. 

The circumstances surrounding their deaths shocked friends and family. The couple’s middle child, Nick Reiner, was arrested the day after the killings and has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, including the use of a knife.

The 32-year-old, who has remained in custody without bail since his arrest, has pleaded not guilty.

During a February court hearing, he waived his right to a speedy trial. His next court date is scheduled for April 29. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

O’Brien told The Hollywood Reporter that the tragedy unfolded less than a day after he had last seen the couple in a social setting.

“Very simply, we had a party, we invited our really good friends, and then, the next day, this terrible thing happened,” O’Brien said.

Back on the Oscars podium

Despite the somber circumstances, O’Brien says he’s genuinely excited to return as host after his first run at the ceremony in 2025.

"I had a lot of fun, to be honest with you," he said. "It's a really fun gig, and I had a lot of fun, and I just wanted to do it again. And then the movies this year have been insane. It was such a great year for movies that I'm excited to be even a small part of it."

The late Reiner leaves behind a towering legacy in Hollywood. He earned an Oscar nomination as a producer for the courtroom drama 'A Few Good Men' and also directed Kathy Bates to her Oscar-winning performance in the thriller 'Misery'.

Meanwhile, O’Brien says he and his writers are busy cooking up ideas for the show.

“We’ve been working hard with my writers. I got great writers. We have a bunch of ideas. Some things are little more ambitious than last year, and we’ll see how it goes," he explained.

The late-night veteran already has a backup plan if his jokes don't land.

"I can always skip town if I have to and lay low for a while," he quipped.

The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and the streaming service Hulu on March 15, beginning at 7 pm ET.