The toll of the devastating fires still churning through Los Angeles is compounding for the film industry as the crisis enters its third day, with more events being postponed and stars like Billy Crystal and Mandy Moore mourning the destruction of their homes.
The announcement of the Oscar nominations has been delayed by two days amid the ongoing fires. The list of stars and films up for awards will now be revealed on Jan. 19, instead of Jan. 17.
The voting, which opened on Monday for the nearly 10,000 Academy members, has also been extended by two days, now ending on Jan. 14. Academy CEO Bill Kramer offered condolences to those affected by the fires in a letter sent to members.
“So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you,” the letter stated.
As of Thursday morning in L.A., firefighters were battling four separate blazes stretching from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena. At least five people have been killed, and 130,000 people are under evacuation orders.
Only a few days ago, Hollywood’s biggest stars were walking the red carpet at the Golden Globes to kick off awards show season.
Now, major industry events have been knocked off course as the film world reels from the fires. The Critics Choice Awards, held in Santa Monica, have been rescheduled from Jan. 12 to Jan. 26. The Screen Actors Guild Award nominations were revealed Wednesday by press release instead of an in-person announcement. The AFI Awards luncheon and the BAFTA Tea Party have been delayed from their originally scheduled dates of Jan. 10 and Jan. 11, respectively.
Premieres for films such as Better Man and The Last Showgirl have been cancelled, and shooting has been paused for shows and films in the affected area.
The largest of the fires has been burning since Tuesday morning, when it roared through the affluent neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades, sending residents scrambling to flee and leaving the roads jammed with abandoned cars.
‘We raised our children and grandchildren here’
Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, said in a statement Wednesday that the home they had lived in for 45 years had been destroyed in the Palisades fire.
“Janice and I lived in our home since 1979,” they wrote. “We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”
Singer and actor Mandy Moore, who evacuated with her family on Tuesday, said Wednesday that she had lost her home in Altadena, near the Palisades.
“Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “My children’s school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.”
Paris Hilton shared a news clip to her Instagram on Wednesday, saying that watching her home in Malibu “burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience.”
She said the house in question was where her son Phoenix took his first steps and where they “built so many precious memories.”
“While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires.”
Cary Elwes, known for The Princess Bride and other films, shared on Instagram that his home had also been lost in the Palisades fire.
“Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire,” he wrote.
Other celebrities known to have homes in the area include Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Canadian actor Eugene Levy was among those who evacuated on Tuesday, telling the Los Angeles Times he had to flee through dark smoke.
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill evacuated his home in Malibu on Tuesday, saying there were “small fires on both sides of the road” as they drove.
Reality TV stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, known for The Hills, confirmed on social media that their home was lost in the Palisades fire.
Montag shared Wednesday that she’d only packed two pairs of jeans and two shirts for herself before they evacuated.
“I got so much more clothes for the kids,” she said in an Instagram story. Emotion creeping into her voice, she added that they thought “of course I’m coming back” when deciding what to bring.
“Just praying for everyone else who is going through this.”
