Rob And Michele Reiner'S Family Speaks Out 9 Months After Tragedy – 'No Daylight Between Us'

Nine months later – the family still feels the loss

It’s been nine months since Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner died, and their absence still reverberates through the family. In a candid conversation with Extra, Michele’s sister Martine Singer reflected on the sudden change that transformed their lives overnight and left their children, Jake and Romy, without both parents.

Singer described grief as something that doesn’t fully go away – a lasting mark that shapes how the family moves forward. Even as everyone finds their own ways to cope, the bond among relatives remains constant and close, like a tight-knit SoCal household holding one another up.

Martine Singer remembers the marriage

A love that felt permanent

Singer spoke with obvious affection about Rob and Michele’s 36-year marriage and the life they built together. She said they were extraordinary as a couple, meeting and quickly becoming inseparable – a partnership that felt built to last.

"The loss changed everything – you learn to live around the hole, but the scar stays. They were unforgettable together, and that’s a comfort and also a heartache."

Her memories leaned toward admiration. Singer called them “the most caring, generous, brilliant people” who devoted years to supporting children and families, a mission that continues to define their legacy in Los Angeles and beyond.

Keeping the kids at the center

Jake and Romy after December

Singer’s primary focus has been Jake and Romy Reiner, who lost both parents in December. She said the family is healing individually while staying tightly connected, each person charting a personal path through grief while leaning on others for strength.

“I’ll never be my sister, and I can never be what’s missing in their lives, but I consider them my kids. There’s no daylight between us,” Singer said, underscoring how the extended family has embraced the children and kept their parents’ memory at the center of daily life.

Legal proceedings continue

Nick Reiner’s court case

The criminal case connected to the deaths remains active. Nick Reiner – the son of Rob and Michele – has faced charges tied to his parents’ deaths and has pleaded not guilty. His next court appearance was scheduled for October, as the family and public watch the legal process unfold.

Even as court dates approach and questions persist, Singer said the family’s attention stays split between navigating the legal reality and tending to emotional needs at home.

Honoring a shared mission – Children’s Institute and an inaugural award

Continuing their work in Los Angeles

Outside the courtroom, Singer remains deeply involved in the causes she shared with Rob and Michele. As president and CEO of Children’s Institute, a Los Angeles-based organization that supports children and families, she emphasized the importance of community partnerships and whole-family work in healing.

Singer noted that Rob and Michele had long supported the institute’s mission, and their influence will carry on through a new honor. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis will receive the inaugural Michele and Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award from Children’s Institute, a recognition Singer said captures their spirit and generosity. She called Curtis “a kindred spirit” who embodies the values Rob and Michele championed.