Veteran actress Sally Struthers has been seen in public for the first time since the shocking murder of her former co-star and on-screen husband, Rob Reiner. The 78-year-old television star appeared visibly distressed during an outing in Los Angeles on Monday, more than two weeks after learning of the deaths of Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
A Sombre Outing in Los Angeles
Struthers was photographed looking deeply upset while seemingly running errands. She wore an almost entirely black outfit, punctuated only by a deep burgundy red, patterned sweater and a delicate gold heart pendant. Her light blonde hair appeared to have been styled with curls, yet she opted for a fresh-faced look without heavy makeup, her expression conveying her grief.
The sighting comes after a period of immense tragedy. Rob Reiner, 78, and his film producer wife Michele, 70, were found dead in their Brentwood home on December 14th in what police are treating as an apparent double homicide. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths.
A Legacy Forged on 'All in the Family'
Struthers and Reiner shared a profound professional bond, forged on the iconic CBS sitcom All in the Family in the 1970s. Reiner played the liberal graduate student Michael "Meathead" Stivic, while Struthers portrayed his wife, Gloria Stivic. The show ran for nine successful seasons until 1979.
In a heartfelt statement released to Deadline shortly after the news broke, Struthers said, "There are no words. This is beyond devastating and my heart is with their family." She also reflected on the invaluable career advice Reiner once gave her, which she credited with changing her life. She recalled him telling her, 'If you can make the show itself more important than your own part, you will wind up offering to give up some of your lines.'
Struthers elaborated in a past interview, suggesting that her character Gloria was 'inspired' by Mike, though she believed the fictional couple might not have stayed married long-term. "Gloria Bunker Stivic would have married someone just as inspiring as her first husband, because Mike taught Gloria a lot," she said.
Final Public Reunion and Lasting Tributes
The pair maintained a friendship over the decades, reuniting on stage as recently as March 2003 to accept the Innovator Award for All in the Family at the inaugural TV Land Awards. Their final public appearance together was in January 2024 at the Emmy Awards, where they paid a moving tribute to the show's creator, the late Norman Lear.
At that event, Reiner spoke fondly of their shared history, saying, "Sally and I were part of a unique television family: not just the Bunkers, but Norman Lear's extended family." He praised Lear for creating groundbreaking television that made audiences "laugh, think, and feel."
In addition to Nick, the Reiners are survived by their eldest son Jake, 34, and their youngest child, daughter Romy, 28. The entertainment world continues to mourn the loss of the acclaimed actor-director and his wife, as friends like Sally Struthers grapple with the personal and profound tragedy.
