Stephen King has paid tribute to Rob Reiner after the director was found dead alongside his wife Michele Singer Reiner.
It was reported yesterday (December 14) that the bodies of a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman were found in a home owned by Reiner in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) later confirmed that the deaths were being investigated as an “apparent homicide”, with reports emerging that the two suffered wounds consistent with a knife attack.
Chief detective of the LAPD, Alan Hamilton said that they were “not seeking anyone as a suspect or as a person of interest” and “will not be doing that until we conduct our investigation and we move forward”. He added that family members would be interviewed but that no was had had been detained or was “being questioned as a suspect”.
Since the news emerged, many tributes have been posted, including from author King – whose books were adapted into the films Stand By Me and Misery by Reiner.
I’m horrified and saddened by the death of Rob Reiner and Michele. Wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker (including 2 of mine). Rest in peace, Rob. You always stood by me.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) December 15, 2025
“I’m horrified and saddened by the death of Rob Reiner and Michele,” the writer wrote on X. “Wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker (including 2 of mine). Rest in peace, Rob. You always stood by me.”
The news of Reiner and his wife’s death were confirmed in a family statement, which said: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Reiner previously said how he was proud of his 1986 King adaptation Stand By Me, which is based on the novella The Body, as he felt it was the first thing he did outside of his father Carl Reiner’s shadow, telling The Guardian: “Spinal Tap was satire, and I love satire, but that was something my father had done.
“And The Sure Thing was romantic comedy and he had done those. So Stand By Me was the first thing I did that was purely an extension of myself, and that meant a lot to me.”
Other tributes have since poured in for Reiner from notable Hollywood names, including This Is Spinal Tap collaborator Christopher Guest and wife Jamie Lee Curtis, who said they were “numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michelle Singer Reiner (via The Guardian), adding: “We have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve.”
Read more tributes below, including from former US president Barack Obama and Ben Stiller:
Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen. But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 15, 2025
What a huge loss.
Rob Reiner was one of my favorite directors. He made some of the most formative movies for my generation. He came out form behind a huge comedic shadow of the great Carl Reiner and being a tv actor to being a a great director who made an incredible run of…
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) December 15, 2025
Horrified to hear of the passing of Rob Reiner and his wonderful wife Michelle. So much love to their kids and family.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) December 15, 2025
Rob Reiner was a lovely man. I spoke to him last night for over an hour. I always enjoyed his company. I met him at his Dad's in 1975. He was telling me about fiming at Stonehenge and his thoughts for the future. This is so awful. I shall miss him. A clever, talented and…
— Eric Idle (@EricIdle) December 15, 2025
Shocked by the death of Rob Reiner – a great man .
— John Cusack (@johncusack) December 15, 2025