The devastating wildfires raging across the Los Angeles area have destroyed over 1,000 structures, including homes belonging to celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and James Woods. The fires, fuelled by strong winds, have ravaged the Pacific Palisades—a scenic hillside community bordering the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Among the most affected is actor James Woods, who became emotional during a CNN interview while describing the loss of his Pacific Palisades property. “One day you’re swimming in the pool, and the next day it’s all gone,” he said, wiping away tears. Woods shared how his wife’s eight-year-old niece even offered her piggy bank to help them rebuild.
Billy Crystal also shared his heartbreak over losing his home of more than four decades, where he and his wife Janice raised their children and grandchildren. “Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away,” said the When Harry Met Sally actor in a statement.
Paris Hilton revealed on Instagram that her Malibu home had been reduced to ashes. “Watching our home burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience,” she wrote. Hilton extended her prayers to all families affected by the fires.
Other celebrities affected include Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh Sperry, who also lost their Pacific Palisades home. Sperry shared an image of the blaze with a broken heart emoji and urged evacuees to leave water for stranded animals.
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill evacuated his Malibu home amid the chaos, recalling his harrowing escape as flames closed in. Similarly, Schitt’s Creek actor Eugene Levy described the intense, dark smoke over Temescal Canyon, while General Hospital star Cameron Mathison shared footage of his home reduced to rubble, calling it “what’s left of our beautiful home.”
Legendary songwriter Diane Warren, known for hits like If I Could Turn Back Time and I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, also lost her beachfront property of nearly 30 years.
Amid the destruction, actor Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy) stayed behind to assist firefighters by clearing paths for incoming trucks.
The fires have also disrupted Hollywood’s calendar, with major film premieres (Unstoppable, Better Man, Wolfman), the Screen Actors Guild Awards live ceremony, and the Oscar nominations event being postponed.
Meanwhile, a new blaze, dubbed the Sunset Fire, ignited in the Hollywood Hills near the iconic Hollywood sign, adding to the region’s woes.
The Pacific Palisades fires have evoked comparisons to the 1993 blaze that destroyed 323 homes in Malibu. With thousands displaced and homes reduced to ashes, the emotional toll on affected residents, including many in the entertainment industry, continues to mount.