Rob Reiner’s Son Nick Previously Spoke About His Struggles with Drug Addiction and Homelessness
- - Rob Reiner’s Son Nick Previously Spoke About His Struggles with Drug Addiction and Homelessness
Vanessa EtienneDecember 16, 2025 at 9:19 AM
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Rob Reiner and his son Nick Reiner in 2016 -
Nick Reiner was arrested in connection with the death of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner
The 32-year-old had previously spoken about his troubled history with drug abuse, which began in his teens
He collaborated with his dad in 2015 on a semi-autobiographical film, Being Charlie, based on his struggles with addiction
Rob Reiner's son Nick Reiner spoke about his troubled past ten years before he was arrested in connection with the Dec. 14 death of his father and mother, Michele Singer Reiner.
In a 2016 interview on the Dopey podcast, Nick revealed that he had turned to drugs partially to cope with being raised by such an acclaimed family in Hollywood, referring to his father Rob and paternal grandfather, legendary comedian Carl Reiner.
After podcast host David Manheim said he started using drugs to “burn off his privilege," Nick said, “It’s so interesting you brought that up because that’s what was my [experience]. I never wanted to identify with my father, with money or being judged on any of that stuff. I don't care. It’s never done it for me, to brag about that stuff. It makes me uncomfortable.”
Nick, 32, also said he found companionship in drug dealers and addicts he met in rehab.
“I had relationships where they’d say, oh those are not real relationships because they’re based on drugs,” he said. “I befriended so many people that I never think I’d ever have a conversation with in rehab. And for all the negative that I think it did to me, it also exposed me to a larger demographic of people.”
Later in the podcast, Manheim expressed his admiration for Nick’s father, saying how Rob’s movies made his life better. Rob was the director of iconic films such as This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand By Me, The Princess Bride (1987), A Few Good Men (1992), and many others.
“It’s a paradox,” Nick said. “You're seeing how they made everyone [happy], and then I’m the one that makes everyone unhappy.”
He added, “The question I love to hear is, ‘You come from a background like this, how could you ever get into drugs?’ It’s like, well gee, I don’t even know where to start.”
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Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner in 2019; Nick Reiner in 2015
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In a 2016 interview with PEOPLE, Nick shared that he was first sent to rehab around his 15th birthday and refused to go back multiple times after that. “If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless,” he said.
Nick said that he ended up having 17 stays in rehab amid some stints of homelessness. “I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas. I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun," he recalled.
"That made me who I am now, having to deal with that stuff,” Nick continued. “...Now, I’ve been home for a really long time, and I’ve sort of gotten acclimated back to being in Los Angeles and being around my family. But there was a lot of dark years there.”
Nick spoke more about those “dark years” while collaborating with his father on the 2015 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which he co-wrote based on his struggles with drug addiction.
The film tells the story of 18-year-old addict Charlie Mills and his tensions with his parents — particularly his father, movie star and Congress hopeful David — over their harsh treatment of him while dealing with his addiction.
At the time, Rob told The Los Angeles Times how personal the project was for him and his son.
“It was very, very hard going through it the first time, with these painful and difficult highs and lows,” said Rob, who directed the film. “And then making the movie dredged it all up again.”
Nick told the outlet that he ultimately quit heroin after a practical realization.
“I got sick of doing that,” he told the outlet. “I come from a nice family. I’m not supposed to be out there on the streets and in homeless shelters doing all these ... things.”
Nick is Rob and Michele's middle child; his siblings are Nick, 34, and Romy, 28.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
