Jerry O’Connell talks about ’emotional’ trial of his “Stand By Me” director Rob Reiner’s son

Jerry O'Connell opened up in regards to the dying of Rob Reiner, who directed coming-of-age traditional Stand By Me.

"For many who could not know, I’m an actor, and I used to be in Stand by Me," O'Connell stated when the anchors of Fox 5's Good Day New York started speaking in regards to the courtroom listening to of Reiner's son, Nick Reiner, who’s accused of his homicide. "It was my first job, and Rob Reiner was the director of Stand by Me. And that is very emotional for me to listen to about."

O'Connell, who was 12 when the movie hit theaters in August 1986, performed Vern, alongside costars Will Wheaton, Corey Feldman, and the late River Phoenix.

Nick pleaded not responsible Monday to costs linked to the deadly stabbings of his dad and mom, Rob, 78, and his spouse, Michele Singer Reiner, 68, on Dec. 14, 2025.

"It's going to be very tough going by way of this complete trial course of," stated O'Connell, a veteran speak present host, who appeared to battle for phrases at occasions. "I'm going to be watching it carefully within the hopes that it doesn't change into one in every of these circuses that generally occur round these homicide trials. It's very emotional and chilling, and it's churning up plenty of feelings."

Someday after the couple's dying in December, O'Connell spoke about his love for the director, whose credit additionally embody Spinal Faucet, A Few Good Males, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally.

"I simply really feel like a dad or mum has handed," he stated on CBS Mornings.

He defined, "You understand, I don't imply this as any offense to my dad and mom who’re nonetheless with us [but] Rob was like a father to me. It's simply surreal."

O'Connell recalled that Reiner had inspired him as an actor lengthy earlier than his roles in The Huge Bang Idea, Scream 2, or Sliders.

"I labored with [Rob] once I was 11, and at that time in my life, , I wasn't moving into hassle criminally, however I used to be at all times getting in hassle for talking out loud in school and never with the ability to hold my mouth shut," he stated. "My mom would at all times say, 'Sit in your fingers and shut up.' And I received to that set of Stand by Me, and I ad-libbed a scene someday early on in capturing, and he was like, 'Lower! Jerry!'"

However fairly than admonish him, Reiner congratulated him.

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