Rob Reiner once said working with son Nick on Being Charlie made him a better father

Rob Reiner previously reflected on how collaborating with his son, Nick Reiner, on the 2015 film Being Charlie deepened their relationship and reshaped his approach to fatherhood, comments that have resurfaced following the deaths of Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

In interviews promoting the film, Rob described the experience as emotionally demanding but ultimately meaningful. Being Charlie, which he directed and Nick co-wrote, explored addiction, family conflict and recovery, drawing loosely from Nick’s real-life struggles.

Reiner acknowledged that working so closely together led to disagreements, but said those moments pushed both the project and their relationship forward.

“When your kid is going through tough times, your main job as a parent is to keep them safe,” Reiner said at the time, adding that the process helped him better understand his son and trust his instincts as a father.

Nick also spoke positively about the collaboration, saying that seeing his father express himself through filmmaking strengthened their bond and allowed him to learn from him in a new way.

The comments have gained renewed attention as authorities investigate the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner. The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed an ongoing homicide investigation, and sources have told multiple outlets that Nick Reiner is being examined as a suspect, though no arrests have been announced.

Being Charlie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in 2016, marking one of the most personal projects of Rob Reiner’s long career, one he once described as both challenging and deeply human.