Rob Reiner’s film with son Nick reflected personal demons years ahead of family tragedy
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A decade before Nick Reiner was detained in connection with the deaths of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner worked closely with his son on a semi-autobiographical film that explored addiction, homelessness, and the strain such struggles could place on families.
Nick Reiner, who co-wrote the 2015 drama 'Being Charlie' with his father, was taken into custody on Sunday, December 14, following the deaths of Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
They were found dead inside their Brentwood home. Authorities have not publicly detailed the cause of death or confirmed a suspect as the investigation continues.
'Being Charlie' mirrored real struggles with addiction
'Being Charlie', which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, followed the story of a famous movie star attempting to reconnect with his son, who cycles through addiction and repeated rehab stays.
Rob Reiner directed the film, while Nick Reiner co-wrote the screenplay, drawing from his own experiences with substance abuse and periods of homelessness.
While promoting the film at the time, both father and son acknowledged that the story reflected elements of their real-life relationship.
Nick Reiner described tension in the writing process
In a 2016 interview with ABC News, Nick Reiner said that the script initially portrayed the father figure in a harsh light.
"My script was harsh on the father character," Nick Reiner said. "I was not wanting the character to be that villainous."
He said 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," he said.
Rob Reiner said the film became cathartic
Rob Reiner also later acknowledged that he initially struggled with how the father character was written.
"I did think that," Reiner said at the time. "I thought, 'Oh God, that’s what Nick thinks of me.'"
He said the process of revising the script helped both of them better understand each other’s perspectives.
"I do think that over the course of making the film, our relationship definitely changed and got better," Rob Reiner said, adding that the project allowed them to confront painful memories together.
Public discussions of recovery
Nick Reiner has spoken openly in past interviews about his struggles with addiction, saying that treatment began when he was a teenager and included periods of homelessness.
In a 2016 interview with People, he said that he spent weeks sleeping on the streets while cycling in and out of rehab.
Rob Reiner discussed the experience during a 2016 appearance on NBC’s 'Today', saying that the film forced him to confront the depth of what his son had endured.
"What I didn’t understand was the depth of what he was going through," Reiner said. "The process of making this film forced me to see what he was experiencing and what his mother went through."
Investigation into Rob and Michele Reiner's deaths remains active
Los Angeles police said officers responding to a call on South Chadbourne Avenue discovered the bodies of a man and woman, later identified as the Reiners.
The family subsequently confirmed their deaths in a statement and requested privacy.
Nick Reiner was booked into custody on Sunday night and is being held on $4 million bail, according to Los Angeles County jail records. Authorities have not released details about the evidence supporting the arrest or formally announced charges.
Police said that the investigation remained ongoing and declined to comment on speculation circulating in media reports. Officials have urged the public to rely on confirmed information as detectives continue their work.
