Billy Crystal loses $9M home in LA wildfire: ‘Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation’
Billy Crystal’s old home in Pacific Palisades, California, was among the structures that burned amid a series of deadly wind-fanned wildfires that scorched certain areas of Southern California.
The Emmy-winning actor, 76, and his wife Janice Crystal, 75, lived in the house for more than four decades, first moving to the neighborhood in 1979.
“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing,” the New York City-born star and his wife said in a joint statement on Wednesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The When Harry Met Sally… star and his wife – the latest in a growing list of celebrities to have lost their homes in the fire – expressed their fears for those in the community.
“We sympathize with our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses due to this tragedy,” the couple said.
The City Slickers star and his wife said they continue to hold the “beautiful memories that cannot be taken away” at the house that was destroyed in the fires.
Billy and Janice Crystal’s old home in Pacific Palisades, California, was among the structures that burned amid a series of deadly wind-fanned wildfires that scorched certain areas of Southern California. The couple pictured in LA in November
The couple, parents to daughters Lindsay Crystal, 51, and Jennifer Crystal Foley, 47, continued: “We raised our children and grandchildren here… every inch of our home was filled with love.
‘We are of course heartbroken, but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this. We pray for the safety of the firefighters and first responders.”
The Analysis This actor, who in the past served as honorary mayor of the Pacific Palisades with his wife, called the community “a resilient ‘collection’ of great people,” adding, “We know that in time it will rise again …our house.’
A September 2022 report from the website Urban splatterspecializing in designing and building celebrity homes, the 6,793-square-foot building offers. foot home is valued at $9.19 million.
The home, built in 1936, features four bedrooms and six bathrooms spread over a 0.40-acre lot.
Firefighters in California continued to battle wind-swept fires Wednesday that swept through the area, destroying homes, clogging roads as tens of thousands fled and straining resources as the blazes burned out of control. Officials said the death toll stood at five people as of Wednesday afternoon.
Crystal was among the celebrities who lost their homes, including Anna Faris; Adam Brody and Leighton Meester; Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag; James Bos; Eugene Levy; Miles and Keleigh Teller; John Goodman; and others.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Hamill and Mandy Moore were among the celebrities told to evacuate their homes.
The preliminary and subsequent damage to the house could be seen on Wednesday
The Emmy-winning actor and his wife have lived in the home for more than forty years, first moving to the neighborhood in 1979.
The house was estimated to be worth $9 million
Curtis said on Instagram on Wednesday that her family is safe, but suggested her neighborhood and possibly her house are on fire. She said many of her friends lost their homes.
Moore said her family also evacuated and has since tried to protect her children from the “immense sadness and worry” she is currently feeling.
“So devastated by the destruction and loss,” she posted on her Instagram Story. “I don’t know if our house made it.”
“It’s a terrifying situation and I’m grateful to the firefighters and all the good Samaritans who are helping people get away from the fire.”
Other stars who have homes in the area include Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg; Many are waiting to hear whether their homes survived the flames.
Woods posted images Tuesday of flames burning through bushes and along palm trees on a hillside near his home. The towering orange flames rippled through the landscaped gardens between the houses.
“I was standing in my driveway getting ready to evacuate,” Woods said in the short video on time, I must say.’
Officials did not provide an estimate of the number of buildings damaged or destroyed by the wildfire, but they said at least 70,000 residents were under evacuation orders and nearly 30,000 buildings were threatened.
A burned-out house in Pacific Palisades, California was photographed on Wednesday
The Pacific Palisades neighborhood is a hilly area along the coast, dotted with celebrity homes and commemorated by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit Surfin’ USA.
In the frantic rush to safety, roads became impassable as dozens of people abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot, some with suitcases.
“Malibu evacuated at the last minute,” Hamill wrote in an Instagram post Tuesday evening. “Small fires on both sides of the road as we got closer to (the Pacific Coast Highway).”
Less than 72 hours earlier, Hollywood’s highest-wattage stars had gathered to walk the red carpet at the Golden Globes, the first major event of the lavish and, for many, triumphant awards season.
The awards season revelry also quickly faded, with premieres of contenders like Better Man and The Last Showgirl canceled, nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards announced via press release rather than at a live event, and weekend events like the AFI Awards were scrubbed preventively.