US director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have been found dead at their Los Angeles home.
Police detectives are investigating the circumstances as an apparent homicide, city officials said.
NBC media later cited a source close to the family, saying that the couple had been found dead of what appeared to be stab wounds.
Broadcaster CNN reported that a spokesperson for the family had confirmed Mr Reiner and his wife had died.
Los Angeles police did not confirm the identity of the deceased but did say detectives were investigating a death.
“No one has been detained. No one is being interviewed as a suspect,” said LAPD deputy chief Alan Hamilton.
“I’m not going to confirm whether someone’s being interviewed at this time or not. We’re going to try to speak to every family member that we can to get to the facts of this investigation,” he added.
Los Angeles Mayor Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom each released statements confirming that Mr 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 yesterday evening evening told reporters that LAPD patrol officers who called to the home late yesterday 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, Chief Hamilton said.
The LAPD issued a statement on social media earlier calling the case an investigation of an “apparent homicide,” although Chief Hamilton said police had not identified a suspect as of last night.
A cause of death will be made public by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, he said.
Mr Reiner directed several well known movies, including The Princess Bride, This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, Stand by Me and The American President.
As an actor, he 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 Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor.
Police have cordoned off the house where the bodies were discovered
His wife was at one time a photographer who took the photo of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book Trump: The Art of the Deal.
Aside from his Hollywood career, Mr Reiner, a native of New York City and son of the late comedy writer and actor Carl Reiner, was well known for his political activism.
He featured in advertisements taking aim at George W Bush in the 2004 presidential election and supported then-Democratic candidate John Kerry.
He also showed support for Democratic presidential hopefuls Al Gore and Hillary Clinton.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are “heartbroken by the tragic loss of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.”
“Rob was the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love, with projects as wide-ranging as The Princess Bride to A Few Good Men. His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others – and encouraging us to dream bigger,” Mr Newsom said in a statement.
“That empathy extended well beyond his films. Rob was a passionate advocate for children and for civil rights – from taking on Big Tobacco to fighting for marriage equality to serving as a powerful voice in early education. He made California a better place through his good works.”
“Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity,” Mr Newsom said.
Mr 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 has three children.
Source: AFP/Reuters