Actor Milo Ventimiglia has disclosed that his family’s residence in Malibu was destroyed in the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. The unfortunate event bears a haunting resemblance to the storyline of his character on the NBC hit series “This Is Us.”
At 47 years old and expecting his first child, Ventimiglia joins the list of celebrities impacted by the recent destructive fires exacerbated by strong winds. Speaking with CBS News upon his return home following evacuation, he expressed the devastation of witnessing the charred remains of his neighborhood, despite being informed earlier by neighbors of the loss.
Reflecting on the personal impact, Ventimiglia shared, “You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and whatnot, and then you see your neighbors’ houses and everything kind of around, and your heart just breaks.”
Ventimiglia and his pregnant spouse, Jarah, evacuated on Tuesday, monitoring the unfolding tragedy via security cameras as the Palisades Fire engulfed their surroundings. In a rush to gather belongings, they were forced to leave items such as the crib and other essentials from the baby’s nursery behind.
The parallels with his character’s fate on “This Is Us” were not lost on Ventimiglia, who portrayed Jack Pearson, whose demise occurred due to smoke inhalation following a house fire on the show. “You know, it’s not lost on me, life imitating art,” he remarked.
Recalling the emotional intensity of filming the fire scenes for the series in 2018, Ventimiglia emphasized the daunting nature of facing towering flames. “Your live effects crew that were in charge of it were so responsible, but still when you’re staring at a seven-foot wall of flames, it’s hard not to be completely intimidated by the brutal, fierce fear of what that represents,” he shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
In contrast to his character’s fate, Ventimiglia finds solace in the presence of loved ones. “We got good friends and we got good people we’re working with, and we’ll make do. Wife and baby and dog, most important,” he emphasized.
Following the portrayal of a fire tragedy on screen, Ventimiglia has become an advocate for fire safety. With the recent personal experience of wildfire devastation, he is now focusing on ways to support his community and others in preparing for similar emergencies.
As California faces continued challenges with wildfires, Ventimiglia’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the real impact of these natural disasters and the importance of preparedness and community support in times of crisis.
