Billy Crystal’s longtime Pacific Palisades, California home was among the structures to burn down amid a series of deadly wind-fueled wildfires scorching select areas of Southern California.
The Emmy-winning actor, 76, and his wife Janice Crystal, 75, lived in the abode for more than four decades, first moving into 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 spouse said in a joint statement Wednesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The When Harry Met Sally… star and his spouse – the latest in a growing list of celebrities who have lost their homes amid the blaze – expressed their anguish for those in the community.
‘We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy,’ the couple said.
The City Slickers leading man and his spouse said they continue to keep the ‘beautiful memories that can’t be taken away’ from in the home that was destroyed amid the fires.
Billy and Janice Crystal’s longtime Pacific Palisades, California home was among the structures to burn down amid a series of deadly wind-fueled wildfires scorching select areas of Southern California. The couple pictured in LA in November
The couple, who are parents to daughters Lindsay Crystal, 51, and Jennifer Crystal Foley, 47, continued: ‘We raised our children and grandchildren here … every inch of our house was filled with love.
‘We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this. We pray for the safety of the fire fighters and first responders.’
The Analyze This actor, who past served as the honorary mayor of the Pacific Palisades with his wife, called the community ‘a resilient’ collection ‘of amazing people,’ adding, ‘We know in time it will rise again … it is our home.’
A September 2022 report from the website Urban Splatter, which specializes in celebrity home design and construction, the 6,793-sq. foot home is valued at $9.19 Million.
The residence, which was built in 1936, has four bedrooms and six bathrooms spread over a lot of 0.40 acres.
California firefighters on Wednesday remained battling wind-whipped fires tearing across the area, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled and straining resources as the fires burned uncontained. Officials said the death toll was at five people as of Wednesday afternoon.
Crystal was one in a number of celebrities who lost their homes included Anna Faris; Adam Brody and Leighton Meester; Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag; James Woods; Eugene Levy; Miles and Keleigh Teller; John Goodman; and others.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Hamill and Mandy Moore were among the celebrities who said they had to evacuate their homes.
The before and after damage to the home could be seen Wednesday
The Emmy-winning actor and his wife have lived in the abode for more than four decades, first moving into the neighborhood in 1979
The home was estimated to have a value of $9 million
Curtis said Wednesday on Instagram that her family is safe, but suggested her neighborhood and possibly her home is on fire. She said many of her friends lost their homes.
Moore said her family evacuated too and has since tried to shield her kids from the ‘immense sadness and worry’ that she currently feels.
‘So gutted for the destruction and loss,’ she posted in her Instagram story. ‘Don’t know if our place made it.’
‘It’s a terrifying situation and I’m grateful to the firefighters and all of the good Samaritans who are helping people get out of the way of the blaze.’
Other stars who have homes in the area include Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg; many are awaiting word on whether their homes survived the flames.
Woods posted footage Tuesday of flames burning through bushes and past palm trees on a hill near his home. The towering orange flames billowed among the landscaped yards between the homes.
‘Standing in my driveway, getting ready to evacuate,’ Woods said in the short video on X. Later, he confirmed he had evacuated and added: ‘It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say.’
Officials didn´t give an estimate of structures damaged or destroyed in the wildfire, but they said at least 70,000 residents were under evacuation orders and nearly 30,000 structures were under threat.
A burnt home in Pacific Palisades, California was pictured Wednesday
The Pacific Palisades neighborhood is a hillside area along the coast dotted with celebrity residences and memorialized by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit Surfin´ USA.
In the frantic haste to get to safety, roadways became impassable when scores of people abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot, some toting suitcases.
‘Evacuated Malibu so last minute,’ wrote Hamill in an Instagram post Tuesday night. ‘Small fires on both sides of the road as we approached (the Pacific Coast Highway).’
Less than 72 hours before, Hollywood’s highest-wattage stars had convened to walk the Golden Globes´ red carpet, the first major event of the exuberant and, for many, triumphant awards season.
The revelry of awards season had quickly been snuffed out, too: Premieres of contenders like Better Man and The Last Showgirl were canceled, the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations were announced via press release instead of at a live event and weekend events like the AFI Awards were preemptively scrubbed.
