Rob Reiner, the renowned director celebrated for crafting some of the 20th century’s most cherished films, was discovered dead alongside his wife in their Brentwood, California residence on Sunday. Authorities have deemed their deaths a homicide.

Born in 1947 in the Bronx, Reiner was immersed in show business from an early age following his father Carl Reiner’s return from World War II, where Carl entertained troops in the Pacific. Carl’s career soon flourished on Broadway and through collaborations with legends like Mel Brooks and Neil Simon on the sketch comedy show, Your Show of Shows. Carl Reiner passed away in 2020 at the age of 98.

Rob Reiner’s acting career began in the early 1960s at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. He took on small roles in various television series, including appearances on The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, and Batman.

His major break came in 1971 when Norman Lear cast him as Michael Stivic, the progressive son-in-law of Archie Bunker, in the pioneering sitcom All in the Family. The character’s nickname “Meathead” became iconic, following Reiner even after he shifted his focus to directing.

Reiner’s prowess as an actor was eventually overshadowed by his remarkable work as a director. He helmed classics such as the 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, which humorously portrayed a fictional British heavy metal band’s trials; the 1986 coming-of-age film Stand by Me, based on Stephen King’s novella The Body; and the 1987 fantasy adventure The Princess Bride.

Both Spinal Tap and Princess Bride featured fellow actor-director Christopher Guest.

Other commercially successful films included 1989’s romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally…, starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, and the 1990 thriller Misery, featuring James Caan and Kathy Bates, who won the Oscar for best actress.

Reiner was married to actress and director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. In 1989, he married photographer Michele Singer, with whom he shared three children. He is survived by four children.

Recently, Reiner directed and co-starred in a sequel to Spinal Tap and promoted the film extensively with fellow stars Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer.

The Los Angeles Police Department said it responded to a death investigation at Reiner’s home shortly after 3:30 p.m. Sunday and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside from apparent stab wounds. Their identities were confirmed a short time later.

PEOPLE, citing unnamed sources, reported that the couple was killed by their son, Nick, who had been open about his struggles with drug addiction.