LOS ANGELES — The recent wildfires in Pacific Palisades have devastated numerous homes, including that of actor Milo Ventimiglia, known for his role in “This Is Us.” The destruction particularly hit hard on Ventimiglia, as it demolished a crib that he had just recently set up for his impending fatherhood.
In a heartbreaking moment captured by CBS cameras, Ventimiglia explored the ruins of his home for the first time, standing amidst what used to be his kitchen and surveying a neighborhood left in tatters. Ventimiglia lamented, saying, “Your heart just breaks.” He and his expectant wife, Jarah Mariano, evacuated their home on Tuesday along with their dog. They later watched in horror via security cameras as the flames engulfed their property, destroying all their belongings, including the new crib.
Ventimiglia expressed the shock of the situation, reflecting on how surreal it felt to witness the unfolding disaster in real-time. He shared that there came a moment where they decided to stop watching the destruction, realizing it wasn’t beneficial to continue seeing it happen.
Interestingly, Ventimiglia drew a parallel between his own experience and that of his character Jack Pearson from “This Is Us,” who dies in a house fire due to smoke inhalation. “It’s not lost on me life imitating art,” he stated, underscoring the emotional weight of his circumstances.
Mandy Moore, who played Ventimiglia’s on-screen wife, also faced her own challenges as she nearly lost her home during the Eaton fire that ravaged large segments of the Altadena neighborhood. She shared on Thursday that while part of her home still stood, it was uninhabitable, and her husband had lost his music studio along with all his equipment.
Additionally, Mel Gibson’s residence was confirmed as “completely gone” by his publicist. Gibson revealed this heart-wrenching loss during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, lamenting the destruction alongside other celebrities who experienced similar fates.
Countless stars have come forward to report either the total loss or damage to their homes amidst the catastrophic wildfires raging near Los Angeles. The tragedies have led to at least ten fatalities, the destruction of thousands of structures and vehicles, and over 150,000 residents remaining under evacuation orders.
In one poignant instance, Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh were left with nothing but debris where their home once stood; only a portion of the surrounding greenery and a gate remained upright. Keleigh took to Instagram to post stark images of their property before and after the wildfire, encouraging others to prioritize safety and expressing gratitude to first responders. “We will come back stronger than ever,” she wrote, expressing her only regret being that she hadn’t saved her wedding dress.
Billy Crystal and his spouse faced the loss of their home after 45 years. Other notable figures, including Paris Hilton, Jeff Bridges, Cary Elwes, and R&B artist Jhené Aiko, have also reported losses. Actor Haley Joel Osment expressed his sorrow about losing everything in Altadena, taking to Instagram to convey his sadness for the losses that thousands in the community endured, and thanked those who had offered support during this trying time. “I am trying to etch in my mind the unique details of this lovely town that are gone forever,” he shared.
