Wildfires continue to rage around Los Angeles, wreaking havoc on the homes of several celebrities, among them Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, and Paris Hilton.
As fierce winds fan the flames, California firefighters are engaged in a relentless battle. Their efforts are strained, with homes destroyed, roads choked, and tens of thousands forced to flee. By Wednesday, the fires raged on without repentance.
In a poignant statement made that day, Crystal and his wife, Janice, lamented the loss of their cherished residence in Pacific Palisades.
“Since 1979,” the Crystals wrote, “our home has been filled with the love of family, a canvas of beautiful memories, irreplaceable. Though our hearts break, the bonds with our children and friends will see us through.”
Pacific Palisades, renowned for its star-studded residents and immortalized by the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA,” witnessed frenzied evacuations. Amid the frenzy, highways became snarl-ups as folks abandoned their cars and bolted on foot, lugging suitcases in search of refuge.
“We evacuated Malibu last minute,” Hamill candidly shared on Instagram Tuesday evening. “Fires flanked both sides of the road as we approached the Pacific Coast Highway.”
Just 72 hours prior, Hollywood stars had graced the Golden Globes’ red carpet, a major highlight of awards season. But the wildfires cast a shadow over the celebrations: Prestigious premieres like “Better Man” and “The Last Showgirl” got the axe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards shifted their nominations to a press release format. Even glamorous events like the AFI Awards vanished from the weekend roster.
In light of the destruction, Oscar nominations were deferred to January 19, as the academy elongated the voting period to aid members impacted by these wildfires.
So, this is how entertainment giants and their stars are grappling with the fiery havoc engulfing Los Angeles:
Stars Who Lost Homes in the Flames
Mandy Moore’s residence in Altadena, near Pasadena, met a fiery end.
“I’m utterly shocked,” Moore recorded on Instagram, her disbelief clear. “Our kids’ school? Gone. Favorite dining spots? Levelled. Many friends? Lost everything.” Sharing a clip of the devastated foothill streets, she wrote, “We’re heartbroken but resolute, ready to rebuild together. My thoughts are with everyone impacted, and incredible gratitude for those fighting the blaze.”
Echoing the sentiment, the Crystals spoke deeply of resilience. “Pacific Palisades is a true community of tenacity,” they penned. “In time, it will rise anew. This is our home.”
Actor Cary Elwes of “The Princess Bride” fame shared his calamity on Instagram soon after. “Our home succumbed to the Palisades fire,” Elwes detailed sorrowfully, “yet we’re immensely thankful to survive such devastation.”
Paris Hilton turned to Instagram, sharing news footage of her Malibu home in ruins. “This house held countless cherished memories,” she shared. “Phoenix’s first steps, a place of future dreams with London,” she reminisced, referring to her young children. “Knowing others wake today without homes is harrowing,” she added.
Stars Forced to Evacuate Due to Palisades Fire
Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram to assure fans of her and her family’s safety. Yet, there was fear: her neighborhood, or possibly her home, she thought, might be aflame. “It’s a harrowing situation,” she confessed, “and I’m deeply grateful to the firefighters and kindhearted souls steering folks from danger.”
Others, including Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, and Steven Spielberg, are on tenterhooks, keen to understand the fate of their homes.
Through X, James Woods transmitted scenes of fire racing through lush gardens and palms near his abode. “Standing in my driveway, getting ready to evacuate,” Woods revealed in a brief video. Later, he updated: “Evacuated now. But, losing it all at once really tests you, I tell ya.”
Impact So Far
The extent of structural losses from this wildfire remains unknown, but approximately 70,000 residents found themselves under evacuation orders. Nearly 30,000 structures hang in peril.
Temescal Canyon, cherished by hikers and surrounded by pricey homes, was not spared. Fire leaped across famous Sunset Boulevard, leaving scars on Palisades Charter High School, a cinematic icon featured in films like “Carrie” and “Freaky Friday.”
The rampaging fire also razed Will Rogers’ historic ranch house in Will Rogers State Historic Park, alongside other structures in Topanga State Park. The renowned Topanga Ranch Motel, erected by William Randolph Hearst in 1929, suffered the same fate.
Rogers’ ranch, spanning 359 acres in Pacific Palisades, existed thanks to land bought in the 1920s, including a 31-room house, stable, and golf course. His wife bequeathed it to California State Parks in 1944.
In lieu of the fire outbreak, the Critics Choice Awards had their Sunday showdown slipped to February 26. Fresh film releases saw delays. Universal Studios Hollywood shut its gates, with countless series, including “Hacks,” “Ted Lasso,” and “Suits LA” put on hold.
The Walt Disney Co. shuttered its Burbank HQ and halted production of shows like “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” faced cancellation on Wednesday, airing a rerun instead.
Overall, the production halts added to wider industry interruptions: the Universal premiere of “Wolf Man,” the anticipated AFI awards, delayed. The blaze underscores the fragility of life and how suddenly flames can upend livelihoods.
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With reporting advice from AP Entertainment Writers Jake Coyle, Jocelyn Noveck, Lindsey Bahr, and Jonathan Landrum Jr.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
