Chelsea Handler Celebrates Rob and Michele Reiner’s Commitment to Decency at the Critics Choice Awards
Chelsea Handler; Rob Reiner.
Credit:
Kevin Winter/Getty; Jesse Grant/Getty
### Rob Reiner Honored at Critics Choice Awards Following Tragic Death
Rob Reiner received a heartfelt tribute at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards held on January 4, just three weeks after he and his wife, Michele Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14. During the ceremony, host Chelsea Handler emphasized the couple’s commitment to decency and their impact on many causes.
Handler highlighted Reiner’s legacy, calling him “the nicest guy in Hollywood.” “Anyone who ever spent time with Rob knows that the minute you met him, he felt like an old friend,” Handler remarked before the audience at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. She recalled Reiner’s engaging presence, stating, “When you were in a conversation with him, he was present, focused, funny, and would ask you tons of questions.”
Handler further noted, “Rob and Michele were tireless in their efforts toward so many important causes, all stemming from one basic idea: decency. That we should all look out for each other, and I think we can all agree that we definitely need more of that.”
Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner on March 30, 2019.
Amy Sussman/Getty
Following their deaths, Rob and Michele’s son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege that the couple was killed in the early morning hours of December 14 inside their home. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that both victims died from multiple sharp-force injuries and classified the case as homicides.
Approximately six hours after the bodies were discovered, authorities arrested Nick near the University of Southern California. He remains in custody without bail, with an arraignment scheduled for January 7, 2026. As of now, no possible motive has been disclosed by law enforcement.
Handler’s tribute served as not only a memorial for the Reiners but also a call to remember the values they upheld, underscoring the need for decency in today’s society.
