Sandwiched between Bel-Air and Santa Monica, the tony Los Angeles neigborhood of Brentwood has lengthy been dwelling to greater than its justifiable share of trade captains, actors, administrators, musicians, media moguls {and professional} athletes.
But regardless of its tall hedges, multimillion-dollar properties and marquee names, residents say Brentwood appears like a small city. It’s not that uncommon to see a well-known face on the native coffeehouse, grocery store or power-walking alongside San Vicente Boulevard.
“You is also strolling across the Country Mart and, hey, there’s Dustin Hoffman. It occurs,” mentioned Jeff Hall, founding father of Brentwood News and a Brentwood resident for 35 years.
Now, residents listed below are taking the surprising killings of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and his photographer spouse Michele onerous. Reiner was a preferred determine amongst a legion of followers, in addition to those that referred to as him a neighbor. Compounding the ache has been the arrest of their son Nick, who lived within the Reiners’ guesthouse and grew up within the space.
Since information of the killing broke on Sunday, the worldwide press has descended on the group. The streets are dotted with TV vans beaming reside protection and reporters seeking to make sense of the violence.
This, too, is one thing Brentwood is conversant in. In 1962, the loss of life of Marilyn Monroe introduced notoriety. Then, 31 years in the past, Brentwood was below siege for months by one of the crucial sensational killings of all time. Nicole Brown Simpson and her pal Ron Goldman had been discovered stabbed to loss of life outdoors Nicole’s condominium on Bundy Drive. Days later, O.J. Simpson was arrested after main police on an notorious “gradual pace chase” from Orange County to the gates of his Brentwood property on Rockingham Avenue.
The world media camped out, and it typically appeared like they by no means would go away. Mezzaluna, the Italian restaurant the place Nicole ate her final meal, grew to become a vacationer attraction for a time, as did the Starbucks the place Ron and Nicole frolicked with associates. (O.J. Simpson’s dwelling was demolished a number of years later.)
Residents hope the Reiner case is not going to be a repeat of the Simpson drama.
Larry Watts, 86, an lawyer who has lived in the neighborhood for greater than 50 years, lamented the shadow that the Simpson killing solid on the neighbrohood.
“I keep in mind speaking with individuals from different components of the nation again after the O.J. factor and, should you mentioned you had been from Brentwood, that’s one thing they might instantly point out,” Watts mentioned. “They’d ask, ‘Did you see the O.J. chase?’”
O.J. Simpson is pursued on the 91 Freeway in Buena Park in June 1994.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“When the O.J. factor occurred, individuals descended on Brentwood with cameras,” Brentwood News’ Hall mentioned. “People would land at LAX for 2 hours and would simply drive out to Brentwood to look. We had visitors jams for months.”
Myles Berkowitz recalled leaving his dwelling and strolling a number of blocks mid-pursuit so he might see the Bronco exit onto Sunset Boulevard together with his personal eyes, and watch it head towards Simpson’s Brentwood dwelling.
Berkowitz mentioned the glare of the worldwide highlight was jarring, even when operating into A-list celebrities on the grocery retailer was an on a regular basis prevalence.
“The factor about Brentwood is that in some methods it’s nonetheless a small city,” Berkowitz mentioned. “There’s clearly loads of celebrities that reside right here, however they’re all neighbors.”
People stroll canines previous the Reiners’ residence in Brentwood on Monday. Neighbors are used to seeing well-known faces round city, and deal with them like fellow locals.
(Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
Neighbors in Brentwood are used to seeing well-known faces round city, and deal with them like fellow locals.
“They know we all know who they’re, however you don’t make an enormous deal out about it,” Berkowitz mentioned. “Lots of our children go to the identical college or they’re enjoying in the identical sports activities leagues, or towards one another within the college groups.”
Asked which celebrities he runs into often within the space, Berkowitz declined to touch upon the document, saying it “wouldn’t be neighborly to take action.” However, he mentioned he’s run right into a “wholesome variety of individuals named in Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah track.”
Photographers, reporters and tv cameras crowd outdoors of the gates of O.J. Simpson’s property in Brentwood in October 1995.
(Paul Sakuma / Associated Press)
Similar to what occurred in 1994, Watts now finds himself explaining to individuals how Brentwood is a secure group within the wake of the Reiner slayings. Violent crime is rare right here, however he mentioned he understands why horrible crimes such because the Simpson and Goldman killings, and now the Reiner slayings, acquire a lot consideration.
“This might have occurred in any group,” Watts mentioned. “The solely factor that’s distinctive about Brentwood is that the victims had been very distinguished, and there are loads of distinguished individuals within the leisure trade who reside in Brentwood.”
The Reiners could have been high-profile Hollywood figures with wealth, affect and political connections, however a household’s tragic battle with drug habit and psychological well being points resonates with individuals inside and out of doors of Brentwood, Watts mentioned.
A pedestrian passes by a row of cameras outdoors the Brentwood dwelling of the Reiners.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
“I feel individuals are extra upset, and saddened by the occasions,” he mentioned.
Hall agreed, saying “households that cope with this — and there are many them — know the way tough that is.”
Its unclear how lengthy the focus will linger on Brentwood.
At the location of the Rockingham property that O.J. and Nicole Brown Simpson as soon as referred to as dwelling, visitors is regular. But a couple of mile and a half away on Helena Drive sits Marilyn Monroe’s former dwelling, the place she was discovered useless. Spectators nonetheless drive previous and infrequently park in entrance of the Hollywood icon’s dwelling.
In August 1962, law enforcement officials and reporters stand on the gate to Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood dwelling, the place she was discovered useless.
(Harold Filan / Associated Press)
The group has seen jarring occasions, however residents say they count on issues will ultimately get again to regular. For neighbors, the Reiner deaths imply the lack of group members — connections not proven on tv cameras or felt by curious onlookers.
“The second phrase began to unfold that the Reiners’ son Nick had confronted psychological well being [and] habit points, no matter shock I used to be feeling was instantly changed by unhappiness,” Hall mentioned.
