Conan O’Brien has revealed that he continues to struggle with the deaths of Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, describing their absence as an experience that leaves him feeling “very hollow.”
The 63-year-old comedian paid tribute to the couple during the Children’s Institute’s 8th Annual Cape & Gown Gala in Los Angeles on Sunday, where he reflected on their legacy and the impact of their deaths.
O’Brien attended the event alongside Jake, 35, and Romy, 28, the late couple’s surviving children, as well as other guests who gathered to honour the Reiners’ contributions to children and families.
Conan O’Brien Says the Loss Still Hits Him Several Times a Week
Speaking at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, O’Brien described the deaths of Rob and Michele as devastating and difficult to comprehend.
“It’s so devastating and surreal that Rob and Michele are not with us anymore,” he said.
He added that their absence continues to affect him regularly, saying: “I think multiple times a week, it will hit me that they’re not here. It leaves you feeling very hollow.”
The comedian also highlighted the importance of continuing the charitable work that mattered so much to the couple.
“This event, something that they cared about so much, the Children’s Institute, is just a way to imagine and realize that they’re here and they’re working,” he said.
“They started something, and we keep them with us.
We keep them close if we join in and do the work because that’s what they were all about.”
Reiner Children Honour Their Parents at Los Angeles Gala
The event also featured a special recognition of the late filmmaker and his wife, with their children Jake and Romy presenting Jamie Lee Curtis with the inaugural Michele & Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award.
Curtis, a longtime friend of the Reiner family, received the honour in recognition of the values and charitable causes their parents championed.
The award was established in partnership with Jake and Romy to celebrate their parents’ lifelong commitment to improving the lives of children and families.
In a statement, Jake said their parents had taught them the importance of being good and decent people through both their words and actions.
“Our parents taught us what it means to be good, decent human beings.
And they didn’t just talk about it; they led by example,” he said.
He added that they extended the unconditional love they gave their children to their advocacy work, including their support for the Children’s Institute and their aunt, Martine Singer.
Romy also expressed support for the initiative, explaining that her parents deeply believed in the organisation’s mission.
She said having their names associated with the Children’s Institute’s work was an honour and a meaningful way to continue the causes they supported.
Children’s Institute Recognises the Couple’s Legacy
The Cape & Gown Gala is an annual fundraising event organised by the Children’s Institute (CII).
This year’s edition introduced the Michele and Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award to recognise the couple’s lifelong dedication to improving the lives of children and families and strengthening communities across Los Angeles, California and beyond.
Martine Singer, president and chief executive of the organisation, previously described the award as a fitting tribute to her sister Michele and brother-in-law Rob.
In a statement released in August, Singer said she had witnessed their dedication to creating a more just and compassionate world for children and families.
She added that their work was never driven by the desire for recognition but by a commitment to making a lasting difference.
Other attendees at Sunday’s gala included O’Brien’s wife, Liza Powel, and comedian Chelsea Handler. Singer John Mayer also entertained guests with a live musical performance.
O’Brien Previously Described Being in Shock After Their Deaths
Sunday’s tribute came months after O’Brien first publicly discussed the tragedy in an interview with The New Yorker in February.
The comedian described the experience as awful, explaining that he had grown increasingly close to the couple and had been spending considerable time with them.
“I knew Rob and Michele, and then increasingly got closer and closer to them,” he said, adding that he and his wife had been seeing them frequently.
O’Brien recalled the difficulty of saying goodbye to someone one evening and discovering the following day that they were dead.
He said the experience left him in shock for quite some time.
The comedian also reflected on Reiner’s involvement in public affairs and his willingness to speak out about issues affecting the country.
He said it remained difficult to comprehend that someone so outspoken and actively involved could suddenly have his voice silenced.
Rob and Michele Reiner Were Found Dead at Their Brentwood Home
Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, had been married for 36 years when they were found stabbed to death at their $13.5 million home in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles on December 14, 2025.
Their daughter Romy, who lives across the street from the property, discovered their bodies at approximately 3.30pm.
Their son Nick, 32, was arrested later that evening, approximately 15 miles from the family home.
He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty.
He remains in custody as he awaits trial.
O’Brien’s Christmas Party Took Place Hours Before the Murders
The Reiner family had attended O’Brien’s Christmas party on December 13, just hours before the couple’s deaths.
Rob, Michele and Nick were reportedly among the guests at the gathering, where the filmmaker and his son were involved in a heated argument.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, the disagreement became so intense that one guest suggested contacting the police.
A source familiar with the incident claimed that O’Brien intervened and discouraged the guest from calling emergency services, explaining that it was his house and his party.
A source close to the Los Angeles Police Department subsequently confirmed that no 911 calls were made from O’Brien’s residence that night.
The Reiners had reportedly brought Nick to the gathering to keep an eye on him.
Other reports about the party described Nick displaying antisocial behaviour, including staring at guests and repeatedly asking whether people were famous.
One witness also told NBC News that Nick interrupted comedian Bill Hader during a private conversation.
After Hader reportedly told him he was speaking with someone, Nick allegedly stared at him before storming away.
Nick Reiner Remains in Custody Ahead of His Next Court Appearance
Following the murders, reports emerged about Nick’s history of substance abuse, previous rehabilitation stays and periods of homelessness.
He had reportedly lived in a guesthouse at his parents’ Brentwood property after experiencing years of personal difficulties.
Sources cited by TMZ claimed that he had been experiencing worsening schizophrenia symptoms and had become increasingly erratic following changes to his medication in the weeks before the killings.
More recently, a source close to the Reiner family told the Daily Mail that Nick’s condition had deteriorated while in custody.
The source alleged that he had become increasingly disoriented and that his lawyers were struggling to communicate with him.
Nick’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 13, 2027.
