The entertainment community is in mourning following the tragic news that legendary director Rob Reiner (78) and his wife, acclaimed photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner (70), were found dead in their Brentwood home on December 14, 2025.

While the circumstances surrounding their passing are heartbreaking, the story of Rob and Michele is one of deep partnership, shared activism, and a love that literally changed the history of cinema.

A Love That Changed the Script

The story of their meeting is Hollywood legend. Rob Reiner was directing the 1989 classic When Harry Met Sally… and had originally planned for the two main characters to drift apart—a reflection of his own outlook on romance at the time.

However, after meeting Michele Singer on set, his perspective shifted entirely. He was so moved by their connection that he famously ordered the ending of the film to be rewritten. Because of Michele, Harry and Sally got their “happily ever after,” creating one of the most iconic romantic endings in movie history.

Partners in Creativity and Activism

Rob and Michele were more than just a couple; they were a formidable professional team.

• Artistic Collaboration: Michele was a renowned photographer—capturing the famous cover photo for The Art of the Deal—and later transitioned into producing. She worked alongside Rob on projects like Shock and Awe (2017) and the recent Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.

• Political Advocacy: Together, they were tireless champions for social justice. They co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which was instrumental in the legal fight to overturn Proposition 8 and achieve marriage equality in California and beyond.

• Childhood Development: They also led the “I Am Your Child” campaign and helped create First 5 California, an initiative dedicated to early childhood development.

A Devastating Loss

The couple is survived by their three children—Jake, Nick, and Romy—as well as Rob’s daughter, Tracy. In a joint statement, their children described them not just as parents, but as their “best friends.”

Tributes have poured in from around the world. Former President Barack Obama noted that the couple would be remembered for “the values they championed and the countless people they inspired,” while Governor Gavin Newsom called Rob a “passionate advocate” who made California a better place.

The Reiners’ Brentwood home, once a place of legendary screening parties and warm family dinners, now stands as a site of mourning for a couple whose “boundless empathy” defined their lives.

by Matt J. Doyle
eZWay Network
MattJDoyle.Com