Cheryl Hines Reflects on Her Time as Rob and Michele Reiner’s Assistant and the Lasting Inspiration She Found

Cheryl Hines; Rob Reiner.
Credit:

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Jesse Grant/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Cheryl Hines has paid tribute to Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner
• The Curb Your Enthusiasm star worked as an assistant to the couple long before finding fame herself
• “This is the snapshot that stays with me,” the actress wrote alongside a photo of the trio smiling

Cheryl Hines is honoring the memories of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner following the couple’s tragic deaths. Hines, known for her role in Curb Your Enthusiasm, reflected on her deep connection with the Reiners in a heartfelt tribute shared on social media on December 15. She recounted meeting the couple over three decades ago when she began her career as their assistant, just months before they were found dead at their Los Angeles home on December 14.

“The loss of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner is devastating. I met them 31 years ago when I began working for them as an assistant and instantly loved their generosity, humor, and unwavering inspiration,” Hines wrote in her post. She also stated, “Their legacy lives on in the countless lives they touched and the countless ways they made the world brighter.” The tribute included a cherished photograph of the three together, with Hines describing it as “the snapshot that stays with me.”

Emergency calls were made to the Los Angeles Fire Department around 3:30 p.m. on December 14 after the couple’s daughter, Romy, discovered the bodies. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with their deaths and is currently being held without bail.

Nick Reiner has previously spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction, revealing in a 2016 interview that these battles had forced him to live on the streets. He noted at the time, “If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless.”

Larry David, a co-star of Hines on Curb Your Enthusiasm, was one of the first to arrive at the Reiners’ home the evening following their deaths. Fellow actors Billy Crystal and Janice Crystal also visited separately to pay their respects.

Rob Reiner and wife Michelle Singer Reiner, the wedding of Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo in June 2014.

Barry King/FilmMagic

A neighbor of the Reiners remarked to ABC 7 Los Angeles that Billy Crystal appeared visibly shaken by the news. Rob Reiner and Michele Singer married in 1989, just seven months after they first met while working together on the set of When Harry Met Sally. Their partnership extended beyond personal ties, as Michele also contributed to several of Rob’s film projects as a photographer.

Rob Reiner rose to fame as an actor and director, most notably known for his role as Mike on the classic sitcom All in the Family. His directing credits include iconic films such as This Is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, Misery, and A Few Good Men.