Comedian Eric Idle revealed he spoke to Rob Reiner for “over an hour” the night of the actor’s death.
“Rob Reiner was a lovely man,” Idle, 82, wrote via X on Sunday, December 15. “I spoke to him last night for over an hour.”
Idle recalled how he “always enjoyed” Reiner’s company. “I met him at his Dad’s in 1975. He was telling me about [filming] at Stonehenge and his thoughts for the future,” Idle wrote. “This is so awful. I shall miss him. A clever, talented and very thoughtful man.So awful.”
News broke late Sunday night that Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, died inside their home in Los Angeles. Rob was 78 and Michele was 68.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” a spokesperson for the family said in a statement to Variety. “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
In a press conference, Deputy Chief Alan S. Hamilton confirmed that the LAPD “is currently conducting an ongoing homicide investigation into the two deaths at Rob Reiner’s Brentwood home.”
Hamilton added that the LAPD “has not identified a suspect at this time” and is not pursuing any persons of interest after the couple were found dead “from apparent stab wounds.”
Deadline reported that Hamilton “avoided classifying the investigation as a murder one.” Instead, he used the term “death investigation” and noted the Robbery-Homicide Division was handling the case.
As the investigation continues, celebrities have continued to honor Rob and Michele. Ben Stiller called the tragic incident a “huge loss,” adding via X, “Rob Reiner was one of my favorite directors. He made some of the most formative movies for my generation.”
He continued: “He came out [from] behind a huge comedic shadow of the great Carl Reiner and being a TV actor to being a great director who made an incredible run of movies. Spinal Tap is one of the best comedies ever made — and the list goes on. He was a kind caring person who was really, really funny. I didn’t know him well but was always a fan and I feel a real sadness for those who did, and his family.”
Hollywood has mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2025. Over the summer, we lost Anne Burrell, Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Brandon Blackstock. In October famed zoologist Jane Goodall, Diane Keaton, Grammy-winning R&B singer D’Angelo, and more passed away. The following month, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland […]
Sean Astin posted his own tribute about Rob’s impact on the industry.
“Rob Reiner is one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television. The impact he made on American culture simply can’t be overstated,” the SAG-AFTRA president, 54, said in a statement issued by the union. “Tributes will pour in and the impossibly long list of genre defining films and indelible performances will play in our minds and hearts. Rob Reiner was a member of our union for nearly 60 years.”
Astin specifically sent support to Rob and Michele’s loved ones. “Our entertainment community and audiences around the world will mourn deeply,” he added. “On a personal note, so many of Mr. Reiner’s films and performances made me think, made me emotional and especially they made me laugh really hard. That’s how I will remember him.”
Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar for her role in Rob’s Misery, said in a statement that she was “absolutely devastated” by the news.
“I loved Rob. He was brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist,” she told NBC News. “He also fought courageously for his political beliefs. He changed the course of my life. Michelle was a gifted photographer. She shot my beautiful photos for the Misery campaign. My heart breaks for them both. My thoughts are with their family.”
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