(KTLA) – In a tragic turn of events, renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife were discovered deceased in their Brentwood, California residence on Sunday, with authorities indicating they were victims of a homicide.

Born in 1947 in the Bronx, 78-year-old Reiner was destined for showbiz. His father, Carl Reiner, had just returned from entertaining troops during World War II when his career quickly soared. Carl became a Broadway regular and collaborated with legends like Mel Brooks and Neil Simon on the influential sketch comedy show Your Show of Shows, which set the stage for his successful ventures in television and film. Carl Reiner passed away in 2020 at 98.

Rob Reiner’s early forays into acting began in the 1960s at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania, followed by small television appearances on shows such as The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, and Batman.

The pivotal moment in Reiner’s acting career arrived in 1971 when Norman Lear cast him as Michael Stivic, the progressive son-in-law to Archie Bunker, in the revolutionary sitcom All in the Family. The character’s nickname, “Meathead,” lingered with him long after the series ended as he ventured into directing.

Reiner eventually made an even greater mark as a director, crafting iconic films like the 1984 rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, which humorously portrayed a fictional British heavy metal band; the 1986 coming-of-age film Stand by Me, based on Stephen King’s novella The Body; and the 1987 beloved fantasy 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.