Ian Youngs,Culture reporterand
Regan Morris,Los Angeles
Reuters
Rob and Michele Reiner pictured in 2018
Figures from Hollywood and US politics have paid tribute and expressed shock after acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their Los Angeles home.
The film-maker, 78, and his wife, 68, were pronounced dead at a house in an upmarket neighbourhood of LA on Sunday. Their son Nick has been arrested.
Reiner is known for directing classic films in a variety of genres, including When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery and A Few Good Men, as well as for championing liberal causes and Democratic politics.
Spinal Tap star Christopher Guest and his wife Jamie Lee Curtis said they were “numb”, while former President Barack Obama said he and wife Michelle were “heartbroken”.
President Donald Trump posted about the “very sad” incident in California, while at the same time taking a swipe at Reiner, who was a vocal critic of his.
Nick Reiner, 32, is in custody on $4m (£3m) bail after being arrested on Sunday, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records.
The Los Angeles Police Department has said it is investigating an “apparent homicide”.
The Los Angeles Fire Department told the BBC they received a call at about 15: 38 local time (23: 38 GMT) for medical aid to a home in Brentwood, a neighbourhood that is home to many celebrities.
Outpouring of tributes
Those paying tribute included author Stephen King, whose books provided the basis for both Misery and Stand By Me, and who said he was “horrified and saddened” by the news.
“Wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker (including 2 of mine),” he wrote. “Rest in peace, Rob. You always stood by me.”
Director Ron Howard said: “He proved to be a superlative filmmaker, a supportive colleague and at all times a dedicated citizen.”
Sir Elton John, who made an appearance in this year’s Spinal Tap sequel, said: “I am in disbelief at today’s news of Rob and Michele.
“They were two of the most beautiful people I’d ever met and they deserved better.”
‘A great man’
Getty Images
Monty Python star Eric Idle wrote on X that he had spoken to Reiner “for over an hour” the previous night. The two first met 50 years ago, Idle said, and Reiner was “a clever, talented and very thoughtful man”.
Kathy Bates, who starred in Reiner’s film Misery in 1990, told NBC News the late director was “a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist”, and his wife Michele was a “gifted photographer”, Bates said.
Fellow actor John Cusack, who appeared in Reiner’s 1985 film The Sure Thing, called him “a great man”, while Elijah Wood, who starred in 1994’s North, said he was “horrified” by the couple’s deaths.
The Princess Bride star Cary Elwes posted a photo of chairs bearing both of their names on t
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