The New York Times Magazine’s annual “Lives They Lived” tribute this year was notably missing two major names: Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.

The absence of the Reiners in the New York Times tribute drew a lot of questions and speculation. Many wondered if the graphic nature of their deaths was why they were excluded from the list of celebrities who passed away this year. Others wonder if the Christmas Day opinion piece written by Martin Scorsese reflecting on his friendship with Reiner served as his very own tribute in the publication.

Regardless of what the reasoning was, the Reiners’ being omitted struck a nerve with many. After all, the couple were pretty much universally beloved in the industry. And, with all the personal tributes from other public figures, as well as the NYT’s massive number of articles about them, it just didn’t make sense why their names weren’t featured alongside Diane Keaton, David Lynch, Jane Goodall, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Angie Stone.

However, the actual reason why the Reiners were missing was not personal at all. The New York Times’ Senior Vice President of Communications, Danielle Rhoades Ha, told Deadline that the “Lives They Lived” segment had already been approved and locked in for publication before it was released. The Reiners passed away on December 14, 2025, which was days after everything was finalized on December 11, 2025, making it poor timing rather than something malicious.

Though the print publication date is December 16, the content was finalized and sent for publication on December 11, three days before Rob Reiner’s death.

Rob and Michele were found dead at their Brentwood home by their daughter, Romy Reiner. The couple reportedly suffered multiple knife wounds and succumbed to their injuries. Hours later, the police arrested their youngest son, Nick Reiner, for the murder of his parents. The alleged perpetrator is set for a hearing on January 7, 2026.

The Reiners’ son has been open with the public about his battle against drug addiction for more than a decade. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and remains in custody without bail. If he is convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or even the death penalty.