Australian actor Callan McAuliffe has broken a year-long silence on social media to pay a heartfelt tribute to legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner, who was found dead alongside his wife in a tragic incident at their Los Angeles home.
A Heartfelt Tribute from a Protégé
Callan McAuliffe, best known for roles in The Walking Dead and The Great Gatsby, took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to honour the filmmaker who gave him his big break. McAuliffe was just 14 years old when Reiner cast him opposite Madeline Carroll in the 2010 coming-of-age drama Flipped.
The Sydney-born actor shared two poignant photographs. One showed a young McAuliffe on the Flipped set receiving guidance from the veteran director. The other was a picture of Reiner with his late wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
A Hollywood Tragedy Unfolds
The tribute follows the shocking news that Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were found stabbed to death at their Brentwood mansion on Sunday afternoon. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed they were called to the property at approximately 3:30 pm.
According to sources speaking to the Daily Mail, the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, is in custody and has been booked for felony murder. He is being held on a $4 million bail bond. Reports suggest a heated argument with a relative, understood to be Nick, turned deadly.
The couple's youngest daughter, Romy, 28, who lives across the street, is said to have made the grim discovery. She reportedly told police a family member 'should be a suspect' because they are 'dangerous'.
A Legacy of Iconic Film and Family Struggle
Rob Reiner was the architect of some of the most beloved films of the 80s and 90s, including Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, and When Harry Met Sally. He was also a noted liberal political activist.
The tragedy casts a dark shadow over a family that has publicly battled addiction. Nick Reiner had previously spoken extensively about his drug struggles, having attended rehab 17 times by age 22 and experiencing periods of homelessness. He co-wrote the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie with his father, which depicted a strained relationship between a father and his addict son.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the deaths as homicides. Celebrity friends, including Billy Crystal and Larry David, visited the crime scene, with Crystal reportedly looking distraught.
Rob Reiner followed in the footsteps of his father, comic legend Carl Reiner, who died in 2020. The film industry and political figures, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have paid tribute to his immense contribution to cinema.
