The Hollywood community has been left reeling after the shocking murders of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer. The couple were found dead in their home over the weekend, with their son, Nick Reiner, now charged with the crime. The news has devastated their close friends, including legendary actor Dick Van Dyke, who celebrated his 100th birthday just as the tragedy unfolded.
A Weekend of Celebration Turns to Tragedy
While Dick Van Dyke marked his centennial birthday on Saturday, December 16, 2025, with joyous celebrations, horrific news was emerging. Rob Reiner, 78, the director of classics like 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Stand By Me', and his 68-year-old wife Michele were discovered dead in their home with stab wounds. The grim discovery was made by their 28-year-old daughter, Romy.
Police swiftly located the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, who was arrested on Sunday evening. He has been formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He faces a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole, or the death penalty, though it is not yet decided if prosecutors will seek capital punishment.
'A Weird, Wonderful, Awful Weekend'
Van Dyke's wife, make-up artist Arlene Silver, 54, shared the couple's profound grief in an emotional social media video. "Such a weird, wonderful, awful weekend," she stated, referencing the stark contrast between her husband's milestone birthday and the devastating loss.
"You know Dick's birthday was on [Saturday]... I can't not talk about this horrible thing. I mean, Dick's birthday was so amazing, so over-the-top beautiful, and then this," Silver shared tearfully. "I was relieved and happy, and then this happened yesterday."
She revealed the deep personal connection between the families. Dick Van Dyke first met Rob Reiner when the latter was just 14 years old on the set of 'The Dick Van Dyke Show', created by Rob's father, Carl Reiner. Arlene Silver recalled that Rob and Carl were the first people she ever met with Dick, and she always felt like part of the Reiner family.
"Rob and Michele were always together, like Dick and I... They always treated me like part of their family. And this is just like... unbelievable," she said.
Van Dyke's Heartbreak and a Lonely Milestone
Arlene Silver provided a heartbreaking update on how her husband is coping. "Dick didn't sleep last night. We didn't know what happened," she said on Tuesday, December 17. The news compounds a sense of loneliness the actor has recently expressed.
In a recent interview with The Times, as he approached 100, Van Dyke admitted to feeling "lonely" and "frustrated", having outlived most of his dearest lifelong friends. "Every single one of my dearest lifelong friends is gone, which feels just as lonely as it sounds," he said. The loss of the Reiners is a poignant and painful addition to that list.
Arlene also spoke of the couple's son, Nick, noting she had never met him but had met his siblings. She acknowledged that Rob and Michele "did everything" for their children. Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry for the beloved couple, as police continue their investigation into the horrific crime that has shattered two families.
