Conan O’Brien recalls saying goodbye to Rob Reiner hours fefore his death: " I was in shock for quite a while"

In a deeply personal revelation, comedian and talk show host Conan O'Brien shared that the couple had attended a holiday gathering at his home just hours before the tragedy occurred.

• Rob Reiner and wife Michele found dead in Brentwood home stabbing
• Conan O'Brien said couple attended his party before tragedy
• Their son Nick Reiner was arrested for the fatal stabbing

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The film world was left devastated when legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found stabbed to death at their Brentwood home on December 14, 2025. The shocking incident sent waves across Hollywood and stunned fans around the globe.

In a deeply personal revelation, comedian and talk show host Conan O'Brien shared that the couple had attended a holiday gathering at his home just hours before the tragedy occurred. The news of their deaths came as a profound shock to him and his family.

Breaking his silence on The New Yorker Radio Hour podcast, Conan reflected on the emotional impact of the loss. Speaking candidly about the experience, he said, “To have that experience of saying good night to somebody and having them leave and then find out the next day that they’re gone ... I think I was in shock for quite a while afterward. I mean, there’s no other word for it. It’s just very — it’s so awful. It’s just so awful.”

He further shared that he and his wife were close to Rob and Michele, making the loss even more difficult to process.

O’Brien also looked back on his admiration for Reiner’s work, recalling the first time he watched the iconic rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap during his college years. He described the viewing experience as a “splitting-the-atom moment.” Over time, their connection evolved from admiration to friendship and collaboration.

Reiner had appeared as a guest on a 1999 episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien and later joined O’Brien on episodes of his podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend in 2023 and 2025.

Conan also spoke about Reiner’s active involvement in political and social causes. He noted that Rob was a Democratic donor, a vocal critic of President Trump, and a passionate advocate for issues such as early childhood education and gay marriage.

Also read: Eric Dane’s final words to his daughters released by Netflix after his death: “Fight until your last breath”

Reflecting on the sudden loss of that voice, O’Brien said, “I think about how Rob felt about things that are happening in the country, how involved he was, how much he put himself out there — and to have that voice go quiet in an instant is still hard for me to comprehend,” he added.

According to authorities, the couple’s son, Nick Reiner, has been accused of fatally stabbing his 78-year-old father and 70-year-old mother at their Brentwood residence during the early hours of December 14. Nick Reiner was arrested later that night in South Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Police Department. after their bodies were reportedly discovered in the master bedroom approximately 12 hours later by their daughter.