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The tragic news of Rob Reiner’s death, along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner, left both fans and acquaintances in shock. The renowned director and his spouse were discovered deceased, and their son, Nick Reiner, has been arrested in connection with their murders.
On December 14, authorities were summoned to the Reiners’ Brentwood residence after their daughter, Romy Reiner, went to check on her parents and found her father fatally stabbed. Upon arrival, paramedics uncovered the body of her mother, informing Romy that she too had been murdered.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman disclosed during a press briefing that Nick, the couple’s middle child, faces two charges of first-degree murder. Prosecutors have also added special circumstances regarding multiple murders and an allegation of using a deadly weapon, specifically a knife, which could lead to a harsher sentence.
At the time of the murders, Nick was living with his parents. Now, another individual who resided with the family and witnessed their daily interactions is coming forward to share their perspective.
Barry Markowitz, a cinematographer and one of Rob’s closest confidants, recounted his recent five-day visit with the Reiners in an interview with Page Six.
Cinematographer and one of Rob’s closest friends, Barry Markowitz, spoke to Page Six about his recent five-day stay with the Reiners.
Markowitz shared that Rob and Michele had invited him to stay at their home while he was in town for the Nov. 14 premiere of his film The Perfect Gamble.
“They would say, ‘You’re staying here. You’re not going to no hotel,” Markowitz recalled.
While he was there, Nick and Romy were as well. Their oldest, Jake, was busy elsewhere with work.
“Romy was in and out [of the house] and at dinner time she comes over and we all bulls*** together,” Markowitz remembered. “[We would] scream at the TV, we watched a movie and a basketball game. Played with the dogs. Family time. One big love fest.”
When speaking specifically about Nick, Markowitz noted that “He looked great. He was sitting and talking with the family. They eat dinner together, old school, and a lot of love, always a lot of love. He helped out. He took out the garbage. He watched TV. He washed dishes. He’d bring me something to drink. He was just normal in that sense.”
Lookig back, Markowitz didn’t see anything out of the ordinary with the family and their relationship.
“I think what’s puzzling the most, the 360, is that there was so much love, that it doesn’t jive,” he said. “I’m not here to judge anyone. L. O. V. E. is the only thing I saw, and I don’t think it was fake. They had a real bond.”
Marlowitz added that he knew about Nick’s struggles and insisted that Rob and Michele “never ever ever” gave up on trying to help him.
“They gave him everything, they tried a million things with him … Not giving him money but sending him to top of the line places (rehabs),” he explained. “Rob never gave up. He tried everything. If you knew Rob, he was just a bundle of love.”
Prosecutors have not yet decided if they will seek the death penalty in this case.
