Conan O'Brien Reflects After Reiners' Deaths
O'Brien said he was 'in shock' after Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead on Dec. 14, 2025, hours after leaving his holiday party; their son is awaiting trial.
Overview
Conan O'Brien told The New Yorker he was 'in shock' after friends Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead on Dec. 14, 2025, hours after attending a holiday party at his home.
Authorities say the couple were allegedly killed by their son, Nick Reiner, who is behind bars awaiting trial on charges related to the deaths.
O'Brien praised Rob Reiner's influence and said having the late director's outspoken political voice go quiet is 'still hard for me to comprehend,' and he called Catherine O'Hara's death 'incomprehensible.'
O'Brien cited a run of seven classic films, naming Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, An American President, A Few Good Men and This Is Spinal Tap.
O'Brien is set to host the Academy Awards on March 15, which sources say could give him an opportunity to pay tribute to his friend.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as elegiac and celebrity-focused by foregrounding Conan O'Brien's personal grief and praise while minimizing details about the alleged crime. Editorial choices—reverential descriptors ("venerated"), emphasis on Reiner's cultural stature, and heavy reliance on O'Brien's quotes—produce a sympathetic, celebratory narrative rather than an investigative one.
Sources (7)
FAQ
Nick Reiner, 32, is being held without bail in Los Angeles County custody and faces two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of multiple murders, as well as charges related to personal use of a deadly weapon (a knife)[1]. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, though prosecutors have not yet decided whether to pursue capital punishment[2]. His arraignment is scheduled for February 23, 2026[3].
Nick Reiner was placed into a yearlong mental health conservatorship in 2020, which ended in 2021[1]. He has a documented history of addiction and substance abuse treatment[2]. The night before the murders, Nick got into an argument with his father Rob Reiner at a holiday party and was seen acting strangely[2]. Friends told investigators that his mental health had been deteriorating prior to the murders, and law enforcement and defense attorneys have been working to piece together his psychiatric and substance abuse history[2].
Alan Jackson withdrew from the case during a court appearance on January 7, 2026, citing circumstances beyond both Nick Reiner's and his own control that made it impossible to continue representation[1]. Jackson is now under a protective order prohibiting him from discussing the case details publicly[1]. Nick was subsequently assigned a public defender, Kimberly Green[1].
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner received a court order to place a security hold on information related to the deaths, including reports and detailed records[1]. Although the cause of death was initially disclosed, those details were later withdrawn, and no new documents may be released until further notice[1]. Such restrictions typically indicate the presence of sensitive evidence that could affect the conduct of the case and jury selection[1].
Before entering a plea, assessments must be made on several issues including Nick Reiner's current mental state and whether there is a need for a competency evaluation[1]. Additionally, evidence review and preliminary negotiations between prosecution and defense may be underway as part of the pretrial process[1].
History
4 sources