Comedian and former talk show host Conan O'Brien reportedly intervened to stop guests at his Christmas party from calling the police during a loud and intense argument between legendary director Rob Reiner and his son, Nick. This occurred just hours before Nick Reiner was arrested and charged with the murder of his parents.
The Fatal Night: An Argument at Conan's Party
On Sunday, December 20, 2025, the bodies of acclaimed Hollywood director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer, 68, were discovered at their Brentwood, Los Angeles home. They had suffered fatal knife wounds. Their daughter, Romy Reiner, 28, found them after they failed to answer the door.
Soon after, their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Police have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the horrific crime.
However, a deeply troubling scene had unfolded just hours earlier at a festive gathering hosted by Conan O'Brien, 62. According to sources speaking to the Daily Mail and NBC News, Nick Reiner was disruptive at the party, leaving his parents 'upset and embarrassed'.
The situation escalated into a 'very loud argument' between father and son. One source revealed that Rob Reiner confided in a guest, saying, 'I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m afraid of my son. I think my own son can hurt me.'
Conan's Intervention and Guests' Concerns
The argument became so severe that some attendees felt compelled to contact the authorities. 'It got so bad and loud that someone wanted to call the police to report it,' an insider stated.
It was at this point that Conan O'Brien stepped in. 'But Conan stepped in and said, "It’s my house, my party, I’m not calling the police". He talked them out of calling the police,' the source explained.
Another guest suggested that Nick's behaviour was so alarming he needed to be placed on an immediate psychiatric hold. 'The conversation was about getting this kid put into a mental-health hold,' a second source confirmed, adding that the argument was 'pretty intense'.
Nick Reiner's troubling behaviour extended beyond his parents. He reportedly had a strange encounter with actor Bill Hader, interrupting a private conversation to demand, 'What’s your name? What’s your last name? Are you famous?' before staring him down and storming off.
A Tragic Backstory and a Family's Grief
It has since emerged that Nick Reiner had a long history of struggles. He had faced years of substance abuse, been to rehab 17 times, and experienced periods of homelessness. For the past 18 months, he had been living in his parents' guesthouse.
According to reports from TMZ, his mental health had deteriorated sharply in recent weeks after doctors changed his medication for schizophrenia, making him 'erratic and dangerous'. His parents had brought him to Conan's party specifically to 'keep an eye on him'.
In a heartbreaking joint statement, Nick's siblings, Jake, 34, and Romy, expressed their 'unimaginable pain'. 'The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends,' they wrote.
They have asked for privacy and for their parents to be remembered for 'the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave'.
On Wednesday, Nick Reiner made his first court appearance, where he declined to enter a plea. His next hearing is scheduled for January 7, 2026.
Reflecting on the host's impossible position, a source close to the matter said it must be 'gut-wrenching for Conan to learn that this is how things turned out', adding, 'I’m sure that night is replaying for him over and over. It’s just so awful and sad.'
