The Pacific Palisades wildfires burned the home of “This Is Us” star Milo Ventimiglia, perhaps most poignantly destroying the expectant father’s newly installed crib.
CBS cameras caught the actor walking through his charred house for the first time, standing in what was once his kitchen and looking out over a neighborhood in ruins. “Your heart just breaks.”
He and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, evacuated Tuesday with their dog, and they watched on security cameras as flames tore through the house, destroying everything, including a new crib.
“There’s kind of a shock moment where you go, ‘Oh, this is real.’ This is happening.’ What good does it do to keep watching?’ And then at a certain point we just turned it off, like, “What’s the point of continuing to watch?”
Firefighters tried to make gains Friday during a lull in the high winds that fanned the flames as many groups pledged aid to help victims and rebuild, including a $15 million donation pledge from The Walt Disney Co.
More stars learn that their home is gone
When Ventimiglia saw the remains of his home, he was struck by a connection to his “This Is Us” character, Jack Pearson, who died after inhaling smoke in a house fire. “It is not lost on me to imitate art.”
Mandy Moorewho played Ventimiglia’s wife on “This Is Us,” nearly lost her home in the Eaton fire, which burned much of the Altadena neighborhood. She said Thursday that part of her house remains standing but is uninhabitable, and her husband lost his music studio and all his instruments.
Mel Gibson’s home is “completely gone,” his publicist Alan Nierob confirmed Friday. The Oscar winner revealed the loss of his home earlier Friday when he appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Several stars have confirmed that their homes have been lost or damaged in the devastating wildfires burning in and around Los Angeles. At least 10 people have died, thousands of structures and vehicles have been destroyed and more than 150,000 people are still under evacuation orders.
The home shared by Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh, was a pile of dust and debris, with only fall foliage and a gate surrounding the lot still standing. Keleigh posted photos of the home on Instagram before and after the wildfire, urging people to get out of the neighborhood and thanking first responders.
“We’re coming back stronger than ever,” she wrote. She added that she wished she had taken her wedding dress.
Billy Crystal and his wife lost their home of 45 years. Paris Hilton, Jeff Bridges and Cary Elwes and R&B star Jhené Aiko have also said their homes are gone. Haley Joel Osment says he lost everything in Altadena.
“I am so sorry for the losses that thousands of people are suffering and I am trying to etch into my mind the unique details of this wonderful city that is gone forever – thank you to everyone who has reached out and helped as we lose our home ,” the actor wrote on Instagram.
Disney pledges $15 million for fire relief
Disney says it will donate $15 million to respond to the fires and help rebuild.
The company announced the donations on Friday afternoon. It said the money would be spread among several groups, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
“Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his boundless imagination, and this is where he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement.
FIREAID benefit concert planned
A concert to help victims of forest fires will be held at the Intuit Dome on Jan. 30, organizers announced Friday.
No lineup or ticket information has been released yet, but the event is being planned by music heavyweights: Shelli, Irving and the Azoff family in association with Live Nation and AEG Presents.
Organizers say money raised will help those affected by the first and support efforts to prevent “future fire disasters.”
The Intuit Dome is home to the Los Angeles Clippers.
