Payam Javan: Two people were found dead inside a residence in Los Angeles’ upscale Brentwood neighborhood on December 14, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Authorities later identified the home as belonging to acclaimed Hollywood actor and director Rob Reiner. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical aid call shortly after 3:30 p.m., where a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman were pronounced dead at the scene.

LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division launched an investigation into what officials described as an “apparent homicide.” While police initially declined to confirm the identities of the victims, California Governor Gavin Newsom later stated that Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, had died. Officials have not released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Tributes quickly poured in from political leaders and cultural figures. Governor Newsom described the loss as tragic, praising Reiner’s remarkable film career and humanitarian contributions. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also called his death a devastating loss, highlighting Reiner’s influence on American culture as well as his long-standing advocacy for social and economic justice.

Rob Reiner was one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers, directing iconic films such as This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and A Few Good Men. He first rose to fame as “Meathead” in the television classic All in the Family, earning two Emmy Awards. The son of legendary comedian Carl Reiner, he is survived by three children. Violent crime is rare in Brentwood, a neighborhood known for its celebrity residents.