Conan O'Brien is reflecting on an unimaginable tragedy that has left a profound impact on his heart. The comedian vividly recalls the lives of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14th, just a day after the couple had attended his and wife Liza Powel O'Brien's holiday party with their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner.
"Quite simply, we threw a party, invited our closest friends, and then, the next day, this devastating tragedy unfolded," Conan told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on March 9th. "The difficulties my wife and I have faced since our name has been associated with this tragedy are nothing compared to the scale of grief for the family and the loss of Rob and Michele."
He further added, "If you're a public figure, your name will sometimes be dragged into things," but it's not a hardship. "There is only sadness that they're gone."
The director of When Harry Met Sally and his wife, who also shared children Jake Reiner, 34, and Romy Reiner, 27, together, attended Conan's holiday party with Nick just one day before their bodies were discovered with fatal stab wounds. On the evening of December 14th, Nick was arrested and booked on suspicion of murdering his parents and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, to which he has since pleaded not guilty.
Conan previously opened up about the shock he felt after hearing that Rob—also dad to Tracy Reiner, 61, with late ex Penny Marshall—and Michele had died not long after being at his house. "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," he told The New Yorker in an article published on February 20th. "I think I was in shock for quite a while afterward. It's just so awful."
The Late Night alum also shared how before the tragedy, he and Liza had built an "increasingly" close friendship with Rob and Michele. "They were just such lovely people," he added. "And I think about how involved Rob was in what was happening in the country and how much he put himself out there—and to have that voice go quiet in an instant is still hard for me to comprehend."
