The deadly wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area have claimed not only the homes of countless ordinary citizens but also the properties of several prominent celebrities.
One of the notable victims is Jeff Bridges, the actor renowned for his Oscar-winning performance in Crazy Heart and his starring role in the TV series The Old Man. Bridges lost his home in Malibu, a property he and his siblings had inherited from their parents, making the tragedy even more personal and heartbreaking.
Milo Ventimiglia, another well-known actor celebrated for his roles in Gilmore Girls and Heroes, has also been affected by the fires. Ventimiglia spoke emotionally about the loss of his home in an interview on CBS Evening News.
Reflecting on the destruction, he mentioned how his thoughts turned to the memories associated with different parts of the house. “Then you see your neighbours’ houses and everything around, and your heart just breaks,” he shared.
Ventimiglia and his wife had to evacuate their home earlier in the week, watching in despair via security cameras as the flames engulfed their property. The actor also noted that his This Is Us character, Jack Pearson, suffers from smoke inhalation after his house burns down in the series, acknowledging the eerie parallel between life and art.
The wildfires, which have been fanned by strong winds, have claimed at least ten lives and caused widespread destruction. Thousands of residents, including many from areas populated by celebrities, have been forced to flee their homes.
Over 1,000 structures have been destroyed across six different fires raging around Los Angeles, which is known for its high concentration of celebrity mansions. Some of the stars who have lost their homes include Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Adam Brody, all of whom have been impacted by the devastating fires.
Hilton, the hotel heiress, confirmed earlier in the week that her Malibu home was destroyed in the flames. In an emotional Instagram post, she shared a video showing the remains of her property. Hilton expressed the overwhelming heartbreak she felt, saying, “The heartbreak is truly indescribable,” and emphasizing how devastating the loss was. She also acknowledged the widespread nature of the disaster, saying, “It’s not just my story; so many people have lost everything.”
Hilton reflected on the irreplaceable memories that were lost along with the physical structure of the home, including photos and personal keepsakes. Despite her sorrow, she expressed gratitude for the safety of her loved ones, pets, and for the brave firefighters and first responders working tirelessly to battle the flames.
Among the hardest-hit areas was the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, known for its scenic views and hillside streets nestled against the Santa Monica Mountains. A wildfire in this area grew from several hundred acres to over 15,000 acres in size within days, causing widespread destruction. The fire left a large portion of the neighborhood reduced to ash.
Actor James Woods, who has starred in films such as Nixon and Casino, was visibly emotional as he described the loss of his Pacific Palisades property in a tearful interview on CNN. “One day you’re swimming in the pool, and the next day it’s all gone,” Woods said, wiping away tears as he recalled the heartbreak of losing his home. He also shared a touching moment when his wife’s eight-year-old niece offered them her piggy bank to help rebuild their home.
Veteran actor Billy Crystal also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of his home in Pacific Palisades, where he and his wife, Janice, had lived since 1979. In a heartfelt statement, Crystal described the home as a place where they had raised their children and grandchildren.
“Every inch of our house was filled with love,” he wrote. “Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away.” Despite the heartbreak, Crystal expressed gratitude for the support of their family and friends and assured the public that they would rebuild with the love of those around them.
Other stars who lost their homes include actor Adam Brody, who is known for his role in The OC and the hit Netflix show Nobody Wants This, and his wife, actress Leighton Meester, who starred in Gossip Girl.
Daniella Pineda, known for her role in Jurassic World, also lost her home, having to escape with only her dog and laptop. “I have one pair of shoes to my name,” she said, expressing gratitude for her life despite the immense loss. Pineda praised the community spirit that arose in the aftermath, saying, “People really show up for one another when disaster hits.”
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, stars of The Hills, also had their home destroyed in the blaze. Pratt shared on social media that he was watching the fire unfold on security cameras. Montag later posted a tearful message, saying she kept replaying the loss in her mind, wondering what they should have taken with them. “We’re out safe, and that is the most important thing,” she said, but her sadness over losing “everything we worked so hard for” was evident.
Mandy Moore, the singer and actress from This Is Us, posted a video showing the destruction she witnessed as she evacuated with her family. She expressed gratitude for their safety but conveyed shock and disbelief at the devastation.
Moore reflected on the impact of the fire on her community, sharing that her children’s school had been destroyed and that many of her friends had lost their homes. “Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together,” she said, acknowledging the collective grief but also the strength that would guide them through the recovery.
Ricki Lake, the TV host and actress, also shared the painful loss of her home, calling it her “dream home.” In a statement, she expressed deep sorrow for those who were suffering from the fire’s devastation, describing the event as apocalyptic.
Many other actors, including Sir Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Anna Faris, and Cary Elwes, are also reported to have lost their homes, adding to the list of celebrities affected by this tragic disaster.
Actor Miles Teller, who starred in Top Gun: Maverick, and his wife Keleigh Sperry, also lost their home in Pacific Palisades. Sperry shared an emotional post on Instagram, showing a picture of the fires and a broken heart emoji, emphasizing the impact the disaster had on their lives.
She also urged people to leave out bowls of water for animals that might have been left behind in the evacuation, showing concern for the wider impact of the fire on both humans and animals.
Other celebrities, including Star Wars actor Mark Hamill and Schitt’s Creek actor Eugene Levy, were also forced to evacuate their homes as the fires spread. Hamill described the fires as “the most horrific” he had witnessed, referencing the 1993 Malibu fire that destroyed 323 homes.
Levy, meanwhile, recalled the dark, thick smoke that enveloped the Temescal Canyon area, making it difficult to see any flames but signaling the severity of the situation.
Despite the dangers, some celebrities, like Jamie Lee Curtis, expressed relief that their homes were spared. Curtis described the situation as “gnarly” and noted that many of her friends had lost their homes. In response to the disaster, she and her husband, actor Christopher Guest, pledged $1 million to help support the affected communities, demonstrating a spirit of generosity in the face of calamity.
Cameron Mathison, the actor from General Hospital, also shared a heartbreaking clip of his home reduced to rubble, expressing his gratitude that his family was safe. He reflected on the deep personal loss of the house where his children had grown up and where they had dreamed of raising their own families someday.
Legendary songwriter Diane Warren, known for writing hits like “If I Could Turn Back Time” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” also lost her home in the fires, which had been her property for nearly three decades. She posted a photo of the beachfront near her home, now gone, symbolizing the emotional toll of the destruction.
Steve Guttenberg, the actor famous for Police Academy, remained in the Pacific Palisades to assist firefighters by moving cars to clear the path for incoming fire trucks.
He urged his neighbors to leave their car keys behind to ensure that vehicles could be moved in the event of an evacuation. Amid the tragedy, even local landmarks like the Palisades Charter High School, which was used in the 1976 film Carrie, were devastated by the flames.
As the fires raged on, the Oscar nominations were postponed for two days, and several star-studded events were cancelled in response to the disaster. The film premieres for Unstoppable, Better Man, and Wolfman were called off, as was the announcement of the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations.
On Wednesday night, another blaze, the Sunset fire, broke out near the iconic Hollywood Hills, further intensifying the already dire situation. The fires have left an indelible mark on Los Angeles, a city known for its glamour and the celebrities who call it home.
