Conan O’Brien ‘In Shock’ After Deaths of Friends Rob and Michele Reiner

Comedian and television host Conan O’Brien has opened up about the shock he felt following the deaths of his friends Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner.

Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Dec. 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities have not released further details about the investigation. The case remains ongoing.

Just one day before the couple’s deaths, Rob, Michele and Nick attended O’Brien’s holiday party on Dec. 13.

In an interview with The New Yorker, O’Brien said he and his wife, Liza Powel O’Brien, had grown close to the couple in recent years.

“I knew Rob and Michele, and then increasingly got closer and closer to them,” O’Brien said. “They were just such lovely people.”

He described the experience of seeing them the night before their deaths as deeply unsettling.

“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,” O’Brien said. “There’s no other word for it.”

According to sources, Rob and his son reportedly argued during the party. One insider said Nick appeared agitated and made guests uncomfortable.

Nick Reiner made his first court appearance on Dec. 17. His attorney did not enter a plea on his behalf. He is being held without bail at Twin Towers Correctional Facility and has been placed on suicide watch, according to a police source. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

O’Brien also reflected on Rob Reiner’s influence in the film industry. The director was known for a string of successful films over several years, including the cult classic This Is Spinal Tap. O’Brien said Reiner’s work had a strong impact on his generation.

“It’s just so awful,” 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.”

O’Brien also spoke about the recent loss of actress Catherine O’Hara, calling her “perfection” and describing her death as “incomprehensible.”

Despite the personal losses, O’Brien is preparing to return as host of the 98th Academy Awards. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 15 and will air on ABC and Hulu.

Authorities continue to investigate the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner.