Police investigate deaths of actor Rob Reiner, wife as apparent homicide

LOS ANGELES, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Actor-director and political activist Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, and police detectives are investigating the circumstances as an apparent homicide, city officials said.

While police declined to publicly identify the two people found deceased, Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom each released statements confirming that Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele, 68, had died.

"This is a devastating loss for our city and our country. Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice," the mayor wrote.

Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton on Sunday evening told reporters that LAPD patrol officers called to the home late Sunday afternoon discovered two bodies inside the residence.

Detectives of the LAPD's robbery-homicide unit were waiting for a search warrant before entering the home to conduct a thorough search and investigation of the premises, Hamilton said.

The LAPD issued a statement on social media earlier in the evening calling the case an investigation of an "apparent homicide," although Hamilton said police had not identified a suspect as of Sunday night.

A cause of death will be made public by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, Hamilton said.

As an actor, Reiner was best remembered for his role on the TV comedy "All in the Family" as Mike "Meathead" Stivic, the son-in-law and liberal foil of the lead character, working-class bigot Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O'Connor.

Reiner went on to have a prolific Hollywood career as a director, helming popular movies such as "The Princess Bride," "This is Spinal Tap," "When Harry Met Sally...", "Stand by Me," "A Few Good Men," "Misery" and "The American President."

A sequel to the mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap" was released this year.

His wife, Michele, was at one time a photographer who captured the image of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book "Trump: The Art of the Deal."

Rob Reiner, a native of New York City and son of the late comedy writer and actor Carl Reiner, also was well known for his political activism.

In the 2004 presidential election, he backed Democratic candidate John Kerry and featured in advertisements taking aim at incumbent President George W. Bush. Reiner also supported Democratic presidential hopefuls Al Gore and Hillary Clinton.

Reiner was first married to Penny Marshall, who played Laverne in "Laverne & Shirley" and was also a producer and director. He later married actor Michele Singer, with whom he had three children.

Steve Gorman in Los Angeles and Dietrich Knauth in New York/Reuters