Rob Reiner’s ‘petrified’ parting words about son Nick at Conan O’Brien party… and why his haunted A-list friends can’t stop talking about it

As is customary in their Jewish faith, director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele would have hoped to be buried within 24 hours of passing.

But of course, their bodies – having been slashed to death in the early hours of Sunday morning – remain in police custody, pending a murder investigation into their own son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner.

And so, it is understood that on Monday the couple’s famous friends gathered for an impromptu memorial anyway – to honor their wish of a prompt send-off.

Comedian Albert Brooks hosted the gathering at his mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Also in attendance were actor Billy Crystal, his producer wife Janice, and comedians Larry David, Bill Hader and Conan O’Brien. They’ve all known the Reiners for decades.

And they had all also been at O’Brien’s now infamous holiday party on Saturday night, which the Reiners had attended with Nick in tow, reportedly telling friends they were ‘scared’ of what he might do if left alone.

Nick had been living in the guesthouse of the Reiners’ own Brentwood mansion, after years of substance abuse issues, at least 18 stints in rehab and some periods of homelessness.

On Monday, the Reiners’ famous friends gathered for a impromptu memorial. Comedian Albert Brooks hosted the gathering. Also in attendance were actor Billy Crystal (pictured with Rob Reiner), his producer wife Janice, and comedians Larry David, Bill Hader and Conan O’Brien

They had all also been at O’Brien’s now infamous holiday party on Saturday night, which the Reiners had attended with Nick (pictured) in tow

Nick had been living in the guesthouse of the Reiners’ Brentwood mansion, after years of substance abuse issues and some periods of homelessness. (Pictured: Rob and Michele Reiner with children Jake, Romy and Nick)

At the O’Brien party, it is now known that Nick was acting erratically and disturbing fellow partygoers. And at one point in the evening, he was reportedly introduced to Hader by his father, before Nick then awkwardly ‘interrupted’ the SNL comic.

Hader is said to have then told Nick that he was ‘in the middle of a private conversation’, which prompted an angry outburst.

Nick stood motionless and ‘stared’ before ‘storming off,’ a source claimed to NBC News.

Hours later, of course, prosecutors claim that Nick went on to kill both his parents.

But, in a bombshell revelation, an insider now tells the Daily Mail that, during Monday’s impromptu memorial, further details about the blow-up at the O’Brien party were discussed.

As one of the gathered A-listers told it, minutes after Nick stormed out, Rob became emotional, going over to a group of friends and saying: ‘I’m petrified of him [Nick]. I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I’m afraid of my son. I think my own son can hurt me.’

It is understood that, upon hearing this, many of those at Monday’s memorial were left in tears. 

Of course, it won’t have been lost on anyone present how hauntingly portentous Rob’s words were given what is alleged to have come next.

The Daily Mail has requested comment from representatives for all the stars in attendance at Monday’s memorial.

One denied that Rob had made the comments about Nick at O’Brien’s party.

Reiner, 78, and Crystal, 77, in particular had enjoyed a decades-long closeness after first meeting in 1975 on the set of hit sitcom All In The Family, for which they were cast as best friends. 

Crystal went on to star in Reiner’s smash-hit 1989 film When Harry Met Sally – and their two families have remained close ever since.

On Sunday, the actor was seen with his wife Janice, 76, outside the Reiners’ LA mansion, after reportedly having being called to the home by the couple’s 27-year-old daughter, Romy, who tragically found her parents’ bodies at around 3.30pm local time that afternoon.

Crystal was seen wiping away tears as law enforcement descended on the property. 

He joined with other notable comedy legends and stars in a statement shared with the Associated Press on Tuesday evening.

The friends and colleagues who included Brooks, David, Martin Short and director Barry Levinson, among others, praised Reiner as ‘a great comic actor’ and ‘a master storyteller’.

At the O’Brien party, it is now known that Nick was acting erratically and disturbing fellow partygoers. (Pictured: Rob with When Harry Met Sally stars Meg Ryan amd Crystal)

And at one point, Nick was reportedly introduced to Hader (pictured, left, with O’Brien), before Nick then awkwardly ‘interrupted’ the SNL comic. Hader is said to have then told Nick that he was ‘in the middle of a private conversation’, which prompted an angry outburst

But, in a bombshell revelation, an insider now tells the Daily Mail that, during Monday’s impromptu memorial, further details about the blow up at the O’Brien party were discussed. (Pictured: Albert Brooks, O’Brien and Rob)

As one of the A-listers told it, after the blow up with Nick, Rob became emotional, going over to a group of friends and saying: ‘I’m petrified of him [Nick]. I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I’m afraid of my son. I think my own son can hurt me.’ (Pictured: Rob and Larry David)

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Rob and Michele’s deaths had been caused by ‘multiple sharp force injuries’.

Their son Nick was arrested at around 9pm Sunday and has now been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his parents.

He made a brief court appearance on Wednesday, wearing an anti-suicide vest, where he did not enter a plea.

He has hired famous defense attorney Alan Jackson, who asked the judge for a continuance, saying that he ‘needed more time’ to prepare his case.

Nick’s arraignment was pushed to January 7. He will be held in jail without bail.