Michael Douglas spent ‘a lot’ of time talking to Rob Reiner about his son Nick Reiner‘s drug problems, he has revealed.
The actor, who also experienced difficulties within his family as his son Cameron Douglas spent years battling addiction, said he bonded with The Princess Bride director over their shared struggle.
Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead at their home in Los Angeles on December 14, and their 34-year-old son Nick, who has been open about his drug use, is now behind bars after being charged with the double murder.
Speaking in TV special CBS News: Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life, which aired on Sunday night, Douglas said: ‘With this terrible tragedy we’re realizing how much pressure he was dealing with in his personal life with his son.
‘I also had a son who had had drug issues. I’m happy to say he’s overcome them and is living a prosperous life,’ he said.
Cameron, 47, is the son of Douglas and his first wife, Diandra Luker. He is also the grandson of legendary actor Kirk Douglas.
Michael Douglas spent ‘a lot’ of time talking to Rob Reiner about his son Nick Reiner’s drug problems. Reiner and Nick are pictured together
Douglas also suffered drug problems within his family as his son Cameron Douglas spent years battling addiction issues and the actor has revealed he bonded with The Princess Bride director over their shared struggle; seen in 2003
Speaking in TV special CBS News: Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life – which aired on Sunday night, Douglas said: ‘With this terrible tragedy we’re realizing how much pressure he was dealing with in his personal life with his son’
Douglas also has a son, Dylan, 25, with wife Catherine Zeta-Jones as well as daughter Carys, 22.
‘We did talk a lot about that and what you can do as a parent, what you can’t do. Knowing with all of that going on behind the scenes, this was a man who always gave it his best,’ added Douglas.
The Oscar-winner revealed he also bonded with Reiner over their similar experiences in Hollywood as they both grew up in the shadow of their famous fathers, with Douglas as the son of Spartacus actor Kirk and Reiner as the child of comedian/actor Carl Reiner.
Douglas said: ‘Well, my experience watching him was that I could never be the man that my father was. He can do everything. I mean, he was Spartacus …
‘Once you go into the same business, it stares you in the face. And in Rob’s case, are you as funny as your father?
‘I think that also created his tenacity, his strength and that’s something that’s not really talked about enough with Rob about his endurance.’
In the TV special, Reiner was also remembered by his Misery star Kathy Bates, who compared landing the role in the Stephen King adaptation to the plot of Frank Capra’s 1946 movie classic It’s a Wonderful Life because it took her life in a totally different direction.
She said: ‘If I hadn’t done Misery, it would be like [It’s a Wonderful Life character] George Bailey going back and seeing what his life would have been like if he had never been there.
‘I’ve always wanted to be an actress and if it wasn’t for Rob, I don’t think I would have ever been able to make that dream come true in such a dramatic and incredible way.
‘I also had a son who had had drug issues. I’m happy to say he’s overcome them and living a prosperous life,’ he said. From left, Kirk Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Cameron in 2006
Douglas also has a son named Dylan, 25, with wife Zeta-Jones; seen in November
Douglas and Zeta-Jones are still going strong after 25 years of marriage
‘Rob changed the course of my life, and if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting in front of you now.’
Annette Bening, who became a close friend of the director after starring in his 1995 movie The American President, revealed Reiner would send the cast and crew home at a reasonable time every day because he wanted them to be able to have dinner with their families.
The actress said: ‘[He was a] family man. The leader sets the tone. He would insist that the day ended at a sane time, which in show business is kind of unusual.
‘But, he said: ‘No, we want everyone to be able to have dinner with their kids.’ He knew how to create a great atmosphere.
‘He loved his kids and Michele. They were very much companions to each other. And we all respected that about them and their relationship.’
