Rob Reiner's son Nick was a 'ticking time bomb' whose parents wanted him out: Source

Nick Reiner was arrested on the night of Sunday, December 14, following the brutal deaths of his parents
A source said that Nick Reiner's parents wanted him out (Adela Loconte/WireImage)
A source said that Nick Reiner's parents wanted him out (Adela Loconte/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rob Reiner's son, Nick, was a 'ticking time bomb' whose d**gs use went out of control after his parents wanted him out of their home, a source revealed to Daily Mail.

Nick Reiner was arrested on the night of Sunday, December 14, following the brutal deaths of his father Rob Reiner, 78, and mother Michelle, 68 in their Los Angeles home.

Source talks about Nick's relationship with his parents 

The source told the outlet, "Nick had been living in their guesthouse, the same one he destroyed more than once, but it had been like a revolving door all his adult life."

The insider also mentioned that the guesthouse was the place where Nick would do d***s and have outbursts, breaking things, punching walls. "He was a ticking time bomb. His drug use was getting worse and his parents wanted him out," the source mentioned. 

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 (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)

The source also said how Nick used to brag "how he could get away with anything and took money from his parents".

"He would talk about this stuff in meetings, but then stopped going because he said it was too cultish. He laughed about destroying his parents guesthouse more than once. He was so nonchalant about it," the insider mentioned. 

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: Director Rob Reiner (L) and wife Michele Singer attend the premiere of
Director Rob Reiner (Left) and wife Michele Singer attend the premiere of 'The Magic of Belle Isle' at the Directors Guild of America on June 20, 2012, in Los Angeles, California (David Livingston/Getty Images)

The insider friend also said that Nick had no control. "He busted his hand when he punched the bathroom wall and refused to get help," the source added.

Interestingly, as per the source, all hell broke loose when Nick started threatening his sister for confronting him. "His parents threatened to call authorities multiple times, but in the end didn't,' the insider said.

Rob Reiner’s film with 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.

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

BRENTWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 14: LAPD officers put up police tape as the police investigate two people found dead in Rob Reiner's home on December 14, 2025 in Brentwood, California. The LAPD confirmed that the deceased are Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
LAPD officers put up police tape as the police investigate two people found dead in Rob Reiner's home on December 14, 2025, in Brentwood, California (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Though the film was directed by Rob Reiner, Nick Reiner co-wrote the screenplay and drew 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 as they promoted the film a decade ago. 

Director Rob Reiner and his son Nick Reiner attend AOL Build Presents:
Director Rob Reiner and his son Nick Reiner attend AOL Build Presents: 'Being Charlie' at AOL Studios In New York on May 4, 2016, in New York City (Rommel Demano/Getty Images)

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

He also mentioned 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 added.

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