Rob Reiner and son Nick got into a ‘loud argument’ at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party: report

Sources said Nick Reiner alarmed guests before Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner left a party; their daughter Romy Reiner later found them dead
Reports claimed Rob Reiner and son Nick argued at a Dec 13 party, one night before Rob and Michele Singer were found dead (Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic, Getty Images)
Reports claimed Rob Reiner and son Nick argued at a Dec 13 party, one night before Rob and Michele Singer were found dead (Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic, Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rob Reiner and his son, Nick Reiner, had a heated argument during a Saturday, December 13, holiday party, the night before Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their home, several sources at the party informed PEOPLE.

Meanwhile, TMZ initially reported on Monday, December 15, that the 78-year-old actor and his 32-year-old son got into a 'very loud argument' at a Christmas party hosted by Conan O'Brien on Saturday.

Sources reveal 'Nick was freaking everyone out'

A source informed PEOPLE that Nick Reiner 'was freaking everyone out' and was acting crazy, as he 'kept asking people if they were famous.'

Following the argument, Rob and Michele reportedly left the party, TMZ reported. The couple was later found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday. Sources informed the outlet earlier that the couple's daughter, Romy, discovered them. 

Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner attend AOL Build Speaker Series at AOL Studios In New York on May 4, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)
Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner attend AOL Build Speaker Series at AOL Studios In New York on May 4, 2016, in New York City (Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was called to the Reiner home around 3:30 PM local time to provide medical aid. They discovered Rob and Michele. Nick was later arrested and charged with murder, and he is now being held without bail.

Rob married Michele, a professional photographer, in 1989. They went on to welcome three children, Nick, Jake, and Romy. 

Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner arrive on the red carpet at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors gala dinner, Dec. 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner arrive on the red carpet at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors gala dinner on December 2, 2023, in Washington, DC (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

The couple first met while Rob was working on the Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal-starrer 'When Harry Met Sally', a project that went on to become one of his most iconic films and one of the most popular Hollywood rom-coms.

Interestingly, Rob was married to filmmaker and actor Penny Marshall between 1971 and 1981. They later parted ways, and Penny died in 2018 at the age of 75 following complications from diabetes.

Rob Reiner’s film with son Nick reflected personal demons

Rob Reiner worked closely with his son Nick on a semi-autobiographical film that explored addiction, homelessness, and the strain such struggles could place on families, a decade before the tragedy.

'Being Charlie', which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, was the story of a famous movie star attempting to reconnect with his son, who cycles through addiction and repeated rehab stays. 

Nick Reiner attends AOL Build Speaker Series at AOL Studios In New York on May 4, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)
Nick Reiner attends AOL Build Speaker Series at AOL Studios In New York on May 4, 2016, in New York City (Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)

It was directed by Rob Reiner, while his son Nick co-wrote the screenplay, drawing from his own experiences with substance abuse and periods of homelessness.

Both father and son acknowledged that the story reflected elements of their real-life relationship while promoting the film back then.

In a 2016 ABC News interview, Nick Reiner said that the script initially portrayed the father figure in a harsh light. He said, "My script was harsh on the father character. I was not wanting the character to be that villainous."

He added that the depiction led to difficult conversations during development. "It was hard for him for a while to think that I thought of him that way," Nick said.

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