Mel Brooks Breaks Silence on Rob Reiner’s Death More Than 1 Month After His ‘Terrible’ Murder

Mel Brooks, who was dear friends with the late Carl Reiner, has broken his silence on the murder of Carl’s son Rob Reiner.

The 99-year-old comedian appeared at the Tuesday, January 20, premiere of the upcoming HBO documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! and said that he was “glad” Carl (who died at age 98 in June 2020) “passed away when he did,” according to USA Today.

“He never could have survived this terrible, terrible thing,” Brooks said during a Q&A with the documentary’s director, Judd Apatow, referring to the murders of the When Harry Met Sally… director, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 70, in December.

“I loved him. I loved Carl,” Brooks added, calling Carl “the sweetest man that ever lived.”

Rob reportedly appears in the documentary — which debuts Thursday, January 22 — and said, “I always thought that, even though Mel was only like four years younger than my dad, he looked to my dad as a father figure.”

Brooks and Carl were close friends and colleagues for decades before the beloved comedian and actor died in his home in 2020.

“I just didn’t want him to go. I wouldn’t accept it. I loved him so much,” Brooks says of Carl in the documentary, according to the Daily Beast.

Rob also recounts in the documentary how Brooks showed his love for his father after Carl’s death.

“For months, months, months, Mel came by the house,” Reiner says, per Daily Beast. “He was that close to my dad that he wanted to be close to him, even when my dad was gone.”

Rob and Michele’s 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, has been charged in connection to their murders after the couple was found in their California home with fatal stab wounds on December 14. Prior to their killings, the Reiners reportedly attended a holiday party at the home of Conan O’Brien, and it is believed Rob engaged in an argument with his son.

After the Reiners were found dead in their home, Nick was located and arrested by police hours later at approximately 9:15 p.m. local time near the University of Southern California campus.

He was initially represented by high-profile attorney Alan Jackson, but during a January 7 court appearance, Jackson withdrew from the case. Nick was then appointed a public defender, and his arraignment was postponed to February 23.

Nick has not yet entered a plea.

On January 7, Jackson reiterated his belief in his former client’s innocence. “What we’ve learned and you can take this to the bank, is that pursuant to the laws of this state, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder,” he said. “Print that. We wish him the very very best moving forward.”