Michael Douglas said that before the “Stand by Me” director was killed, he and Rob Reiner often communicated about their sons’ concerns.
As part of CBS’ “Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life” special, Douglas said dealing with his own son Cameron Douglas’ addiction helped him empathize with Reiner and his son Nick’s issues.
“I also have a son who had drug problems, and I’m happy to say he overcame them and is living a fulfilling life,” Douglas said. The two-time Oscar winner added that he and Reiner “will talk a lot about that and what we can and can’t do as parents.”
Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer, were found stabbed to death in their home on December 14th. Their son, Nick, was arrested hours later and charged Tuesday afternoon with two counts of murder in the deaths of his parents. The Los Angeles Police Department later said in a statement that “Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Robert and Michelle Reiner, was responsible for their deaths.”
Douglas called Reiner’s death a “terrible tragedy,” later adding, “He was a man who always did his best despite everything that was going on behind the scenes.”
Reiner and Douglas worked together on the 1995 political drama “The American President” and the 2014 romance film “And So It Goes.”
Douglas’ son was released in 2016 after serving nearly seven years on drug-related charges.
The CBS special also included interviews with Jerry O’Connell, Kathy Bates, Albert Brooks, Annette Bening, and Mandy Patinkin.
