A heartbreaking detail has emerged about Dick Van Dyke following the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner.
The couple, both prominent figures in Hollywood and activism, were found stabbed to death inside their Los Angeles home on Sunday, December 14 - a tragedy that has devastated friends, family, and the wider entertainment community.
Dick Van Dyke couldn't sleep following the reports of the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner. Credit: Amy Sussman / Getty
Van Dyke’s Emotional Reaction to the Reiners’ Deaths
Dick Van Dyke’s wife, Arlene Silver, shared a deeply emotional video on Instagram, revealing how the horrific news cast a shadow over what should have been a joyful weekend.
The Mary Poppins star had just celebrated his 100th birthday one day before the Reiners were found dead.
“Such a weird, wonderful, awful weekend,” Silver, 54, said in the clip. “I can’t not talk about this horrible thing... Dick’s birthday was so amazing, so over-the-top beautiful, and then this. I was relieved and happy, and then this happened yesterday.”
Silver explained that Van Dyke “didn’t sleep” after hearing initial reports that “two people were found in the house.” She said her husband stayed awake, desperate for more information as details began to emerge.
The tragedy hit especially hard for the Dick Van Dyke Show icon, whose late friend Carl Reiner, Rob’s father, had created the iconic sitcom that launched his career in the 1960s.
Silver reflected on the family’s close bond, saying: “Rob and Carl were the first people I ever met with Dick. Rob and Michele were always together, like Dick and I. I always felt part of the Reiner family; they always treated me like part of their family. And this is just unbelievable.”
She added heartbreakingly, “I can’t imagine if Norman Lear and Carl were alive for this...It’s terrible. I want to celebrate Dick, I want to keep doing that, but I also want to acknowledge this horrible thing.”
The Night Before the Murders
New details have since surfaced about the Reiners’ final public appearance before their deaths.
According to multiple sources, the couple attended a holiday party hosted by Conan O’Brien the night before they were killed, alongside their son, Nick Reiner.
Several attendees described Nick’s behavior at the party as erratic and alarming. One guest told NBC News that Nick interrupted comedian Bill Hader during a private conversation, refused to back down, and then “stormed off,” leaving those nearby unsettled.
Another source said Rob and Michele were “upset and embarrassed” by their son’s conduct and privately expressed concern about his health during the event.
Separate reports from PEOPLE revealed that Nick and his father got into a heated argument that grew loud enough to draw attention.
One guest recalled that THE 32-year-old was “freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous.” According to TMZ, the couple left the party shortly after the confrontation.
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14. Credit: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty
The Horrific Discovery
The following afternoon, the Reiners’ 27-year-old daughter, Romy, arrived at the family’s $13.5 million Brentwood mansion after a massage therapist was unable to get in.
She found her father’s body first and contacted the police. Paramedics later confirmed that both Rob and Michele were dead from stab wounds.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded around 3:40 p.m., later confirming that the pair had been murdered.
“As a result of the initial investigation, it was determined that the Reiners were the victims of homicide,” officials said in a statement. “The investigation further revealed that Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Robert and Michele Reiner, was responsible for their deaths.”
Nick was arrested that same evening at around 9:15 p.m. near Exposition Park after being located by police. He was taken into custody without incident.
Nick Reiner is charged with his parents, Rob and Michele murders. Credit: Michael Buckner / Getty
Charges and Legal Proceedings
On Tuesday (December 16), Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that Nick had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, with a special allegation that he personally used a knife.
If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or potentially the death penalty.
Nick’s attorney, Alan Jackson, told reporters that his client had not appeared in court because he was awaiting medical clearance to be transferred from jail to the courthouse.
Prosecutors said the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue to piece together the events leading up to the killings.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry, with figures from generations honoring the Reiners’ contributions to film, television, and social causes.
Norman Lear’s family told The Hollywood Reporter they were “devastated” by the news, saying, “Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world.”
Our thoughts continue to be with the Reiners' loved ones at this time.