Nick Reiner
Nick Reiner has an older brother, Jake, and a younger sister, Romy, as well as an adopted older sister, Tracy Reiner, from Rob Reiner’s marriage to the late Penny Marshall. Romy Reiner's Instagram

Rob Reiner was widely regarded as one of Hollywood's most popular actor-directors, and tributes reportedly poured in after news of his death. Reports have since alleged that his youngest son, Nick Reiner, killed both Rob and his wife, Michele Reiner.

Nick Reiner is currently in prison awaiting trial. He was reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia and, according to reports, was taking medication at the time of the alleged killings; he is also said to be kept apart from other inmates and spends most of his time in his cell.

Nick Reiner's Relationship With His Siblings

One of Rob Reiner's friends has shared a claim about the family dynamic in the aftermath of the case. Nannon Williams, who has been in prison for more than three decades, became friends with the Reiners after they watched a play inspired by his life.

In an interview, Williams described Rob as kind and said the director would not have wanted Nick to remain in prison if he were still alive. Williams claimed Rob would have wanted his son to continue taking medication and to receive treatment.

Williams also said Rob raised his three children with 'seeds of love', and suggested that Jake and Romy are unlikely to hate Nick for what he is accused of doing. He claimed the siblings even reached out to Nick to tell him they would support him during the period ahead, reaffirming that they still see him as family.

'Protective' of Nick Reiner

Williams' account broadly aligns with claims attributed to an unnamed source in other reporting, which described the Reiners as protective of Nick. The source alleged that the family does not want private details about Nick's life, including his health, to become public.

'They've worked so hard to keep these issues private — no one knew about them. The thought of this being exposed would break their hearts. There has been so much hardship and difficulty in this seemingly perfect family. They've tried for years to protect Nick and each other, and this is devastating for them,' the source said, according to OK! magazine.

Last week, multiple reports also claimed Nick was placed in a mental health conservatorship a few years ago. The arrangement is designed for people dealing with severe mental health conditions who may be unable to make sound decisions, and those reports said the conservatorship ended in 2021.

Mental Health Struggles

Nick has spoken publicly in the past about living with mental health issues. Rob also discussed how Nick's diagnosis affected their relationship and how difficult it was to navigate treatment, boundaries, and relapse.

In 2015, Rob directed Being Charlie, a film he said was inspired by Nick's struggles. While promoting the project, Rob said the work forced him to revisit painful memories linked to his son's addiction.

In past interviews, Rob also expressed regret about following medical advice that pushed him towards 'tough love'. He said Nick often told him treatments were not working, and he wished he had listened to his son more than to doctors and counsellors.

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