“I just feel like a parent has passed,” the actor said of the legendary filmmaker’s death.

Stand by Me star Jerry O’Connell reacts to director Rob Reiner’s shocking death: ‘He was like a father to me’

"I just feel like a parent has passed," the actor said of the legendary filmmaker's death.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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December 15, 2025 1:58 p.m. ET

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Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Rob Reiner, and Jerry O'Connell on the set of 'Stand By Me'. Credit:

Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

Jerry O'Connell is honoring legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner, one day after the director's tragic death.

Hollywood is still reeling from the news that Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Singer, 68, were found dead in their home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon in an apparent double homicide. O'Connell, who was just 11-years-old when he starred in Reiner's pivotal coming-of-age drama *Stand by Me*, told CBS Mornings that he is still in "shock" over the news.

"You know, I don’t mean this as any offense to my parents who are still with us … [but] Rob was like a father to me," O'Connell told host Gayle King. "It’s just surreal."

O'Connell shared that he learned of the news like everyone else, as information "sort of trickled out" about the couple's death. Initial reports revealed that two people were found dead at Reiner's home, who were later confirmed to be the director and his wife. Looking back on Reiner's career, O'Connell spoke very highly of the acclaimed filmmaker, stating that he looked after the young actors of* Stand by Me,* which also starred Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, and Corey Feldman.

Jerry O'Connell and Rob Reiner.

Kevin Mazur/Getty; Amy Sussman/Getty

"I worked with [Rob] when I was 11, and at that point in my life, you know, I wasn’t getting into trouble criminally, but I was always getting in trouble for speaking out loud in class and not being able to keep my mouth shut," O'Connell recalled. "My mother would always say, 'Sit on your hands and shut up.' And I got to that set of *Stand by Me* and I ad-libbed a scene one day early on in shooting and he was like, 'Cut! Jerry!'"

O'Connell said he expected to get in trouble but instead, Reiner walked over and said, "'Hey, Jerry, keep going, man. That’s what I’m talking about right there. Go, more.'"

The actor, whose role as Vern Tessio in* Stand by Me* marked his breakthrough, added, "Everything I have is because of Rob Reiner. It’s just a sad, shocking day."

Rob Reiner's son Nick arrested in connection with his parents' deaths

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O'Connell also unpacked the tragic loss of the Reiner's during a Monday chat with PEOPLE, revealing that he has reached out to his fellow *Stand by Me* alums.

"We're all shocked," O'Connell said. "I can't speak for them [co stars Wheaton and Feldman], but for myself, I feel like a parent has passed, you know? I just feel like a parent has passed."

Reiterating just how much of an influence Reiner has on his life, O'Connell noted that the director "protected" him and his costars throughout the film's creation.

"We were saying, we have no idea how he herded a bunch of like 11, 12 and 13-year-old for this movie," O'Connell shared. "And not only herd us, it wasn't like a teacher or an authority figure. He was just a special, he was just a special human being… he is just a kind soul, really. A kind soul.”

He added, "Every professional experience I've had after *Stand By Me*, you sort of feel alone a little bit because Rob isn't there."

Rob Reiner with actors Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell and Richard Dreyfuss.

John M. Heller/Getty

Feldman shared his own tribute to Reiner on social media, writing on X, "THIS IS HORRIBLE NEWS! IM SO SORRY 4 ROB & HIS WIFE, & THEIR CHILDREN & THE WHOLE REINER FAMILY! ALL I CAN SAY IS IM SHOCKED & SADDENED, BUT I LOVE U ROB! U WILL B 4EVER MISSED!"

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Reiner’s 1986 adaptation of Stephen King’s novella *The Body *follows four boys who set out on a journey to find the dead body of a missing boy. It has since been heralded as an instant coming-of-age classic and continues to reach new generations each year. It marks just one of Reiner's iconic contributions to film canon, with other influential titles, including *A Few Good Men*,* The Princess Bride*, and *When Harry Met Sally*.

The investigation into Reiner and Michele's deaths remains ongoing and is presently being looked into as a homicide. TMZ reported that their deaths were attributed to lacerations consistent with a knife. Their son, Nick, has since been arrested for an alleged felony charge, according to Los Angeles Sheriff's Department records. He is being held on $4 million bail.**

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