Chelsea Handler Pays Emotional Tribute to Rob Reiner at Critics Choice Awards: 'The Nicest Guy in Hollywood'

During her opening monologue at last night’s Critics Choice Awards, event host Chelsea Handler took a moment to pay tribute to the late great Rob Reiner, whom she referred to as “the nicest guy in Hollywood” (via People).

“Anyone who ever spent time with Rob Reiner knows that the minute you met him, he felt like an old friend,” the 50-year-old Handler said at the longtime awards ceremony held in Santa Monica, California’s Barker Hangar.

“When you were in a conversation with him, he was present and he was focused and he was funny, and he would ask you tons of questions, whether you were discussing politics or film or the latest beauty trends, he was all in,” the comedian continued.

Moving on, Handler said that she hoped everyone attending the event could take a key characteristic Reiner used throughout his life, demonstrating “decency” in spite of any perceived personal or political differences.

“Rob and Michele were tireless in their efforts to so many important causes, all stemming from one basic idea: decency,” Handler said. “That we should all look out for each other, and I think we can all agree that we definitely need more of that. So let’s use tonight as a reminder of that decency and a reminder of everything Rob and Michele stood for.”

Handler’s tribute to Reiner and his wife Michele come several weeks after the couple were found murdered in their Los Angeles home on December 14. The Reiners’ 32-year-old son, Nick, has been charged with the couple’s deaths, facing two counts of first-degree murder.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, the couple’s deaths were attributed to homicide, with Nick apprehended by local authorities near the University of Southern California approximately six hours after the Reiners’ bodies were discovered.

The 32-year-old Nick is currently being held without bail, with his arraignment scheduled to take place on January 7, 2026.