‘I slept in the same house as Nick’: Rob Reiner close friend shares chilling account weeks before murder charges

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Okay, so this is huge. I just found out that Barry Markowitz, the cinematographer, was actually staying at Rob and Michele Reiner’s house – like, living there – for weeks before… well, before everything happened. It’s just… unsettling to think he was there, in their home, right before the tragedy. I can’t stop thinking about it! It’s a detail I never knew, and it makes the whole case even more creepy and mysterious to me.

As someone who moves around a lot for events, I always appreciate a comfortable place to stay. I was in Los Angeles for the premiere of Rob Reiner’s new film, The Perfect Gamble on November 14th, and I was lucky enough to stay with Rob and his family during my visit. We’re close friends, so it felt like home!

Markowitz said Rob specifically asked to stay with them instead of getting a hotel, and they happily included him in their everyday life.

I was absolutely amazed to hear about Markowitz’s experience! He told me he spent five whole nights living with the Reiners, just joining in with their everyday routines. He shared meals with them, watched movies and basketball, played with their dogs, and really just spent evenings being part of the family. It sounded incredible!

Most striking, Markowitz said, was the complete absence of fear.

He remembered staying in the same house as Nick, and pointed out that Rob and Michele never seemed worried about their safety at any time.

Markowitz said Nick seemed to be doing well during the visit, despite his long-standing and public struggle with drug addiction that began in his teens.

He said Nick seemed attentive and involved, and spent his time playing tennis, basketball, having meals with his family, and doing chores.

Markowitz described Nick as surprisingly down-to-earth, remembering him doing everyday chores like washing dishes, taking out the trash, and even getting drinks for guests.

Markowitz said nothing about the family dynamic suggested tension or danger. 

Honestly, hearing him describe his time with my family as ‘a blast’ just makes everything so much harder to understand. It’s baffling – how could someone enjoy being with us and then… do what they did? It’s truly puzzling and deeply upsetting.

After Nick was arrested for his parents’ murder, Markowitz explained that what happened next was hard to believe, especially considering what he personally saw.

I don’t think Rob ever considered Nick to be a threat. If he’d felt unsafe at any time, he would have taken action, according to him.

Markowitz said he believes mental illness, not motive, is at the center of the tragedy. 

Honestly, it’s been incredibly tough since losing my friends. I’m still adjusting to their sudden absence, and it’s something I continue to work through daily. It’s a real reminder that grief doesn’t just disappear, and it’s okay to still feel it.

He said he was shocked they hadn’t arrived. Rob was incredibly close to him, like a brother, and finding himself in this terrible situation just days later felt surreal.

Markowitz emphasized that Rob and Michele consistently supported Nick throughout his struggle with addiction, never giving up on him.

The Daily Mail has contacted Markowitz’s team for a response, but they haven’t replied yet.

Earlier this week, he marked his friend’s death with an emotional Instagram tribute.  

I can’t even begin to explain how heartbroken I am. I just lost Rob and Michele Reiner – they weren’t just friends, they were like family, my mentors for years. I loved them SO much. They always, always told me I could count on them, that I had to stay with them, no matter what. It feels like just yesterday we were all together! I’m absolutely devastated, completely and utterly wrecked.

On Tuesday, Nick was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. 

If found guilty, the 32-year-old man could be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of release, or potentially face the death penalty.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a press conference that prosecutors haven’t yet decided if they will pursue the death penalty in the case.

Prosecutors allege he personally used a knife as a dangerous weapon, according to Hochman.

This news follows the discovery, just two days ago, of Nick’s parents murdered in their Los Angeles home. The couple was found with fatal throat wounds at their $13.5 million mansion.

Nick was arrested later that day in connection with the deaths. Dramatic video showed police arresting him at a busy downtown intersection, roughly 15 miles from the family’s home in Brentwood.

Los Angeles deputy police chief Alan Hamilton stated the man was arrested peacefully Sunday evening and didn’t attempt to escape or fight.

According to TMZ, Reiner, age 78, reportedly had a heated argument with his son at a Christmas party hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien on Saturday, only hours before a double murder occurred.

According to multiple witnesses, Nick – who has previously been accused of violence and struggles with substance abuse – was behaving strangely at the party.

According to reports, Reiner brought the 32-year-old man – who was living with his parents – to O’Brien’s party to watch over him.

People at the celebrity holiday party said Nick acted strangely, including just staring at guests, which they considered antisocial.

People at the party told People magazine he was behaving erratically and repeatedly asked guests if they were celebrities.

Romy Reiner, age 27 and the youngest child of the couple, found her parents deceased at their home the next day. She lives just across the street.

The couple’s son, Nick, was arrested Sunday night and accused of stabbing his parents to death while they were in bed.

Police were able to locate him after he checked into a motel close to Santa Monica’s famous pier.

Investigators searching his room found a shower covered in blood, along with bloodstains on the bed. The windows were also covered with bedsheets, blocking out the light.

Police said they apprehended him through traditional investigative methods, about six hours after the initial 911 call came in on Sunday afternoon.

According to a witness who spoke with the Daily Mail, Nick was surrounded by five unmarked police cars. The witness said Nick stayed calm while armed officers – including homicide detectives and US Marshals – moved in and forced him to the ground.

According to police, Nick was arrested peacefully and didn’t try to resist or run away. He was then taken to the police station for questioning.

According to 34-year-old Kevin Cheatham, who witnessed the event, the attack happened unexpectedly. He told the Daily Mail that Nick seemed to stay calm and collected throughout it.

On Sunday, Cheatham was at the corner of Exposition Boulevard and Vermont Avenue when he noticed a man walking alone. He described the man as looking ordinary, and wearing a backpack, jacket, beanie, and blue shoes.

He told officers he first saw a man walking by himself on the sidewalk when they arrived. He continued to watch as police and a K9 unit showed up about half an hour later.

It’s unknown if Nick arrived at the location by metro or taxi. Staff at the Pierside Hotel in Santa Monica found a disturbing scene: a shower covered in blood, bloodstains all over the bed, and the windows blocked with bedsheets.

Cheatham says Nick was walking west on Exposition Boulevard when the police encountered him.

The witness said it seemed like the man wasn’t expecting it. He wasn’t attacked, just approached while going about his day.

According to a source who spoke with the Daily Mail, Nick was living in a guest house on his parents’ estate.

‘It had been like a revolving door all his adult life,’ the source claimed.

He used methamphetamine, leading to days without sleep and violent episodes where he’d break objects and punch walls. He was increasingly unpredictable and his drug use was escalating, causing his parents to want him to leave home.

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2025-12-17 08:35