“Luke Skywalker” Mark Hamill is among the people who have evacuated Malibu amid the wildfires that are raging across parts of Los Angeles. The Star Wars actor shared on Instagram how he and his family left their home amid the spreading blaze.
Starting in Pacific Palisades, one of Los Angeles’ toniest neighborhoods, fires overnight also hit parts of Malibu and Santa Monica. The Palisades fire was zero percent contained as of Wednesday morning, per the L.A. Fire Department. (See photos.) Three other active wildfires in L.A. County — the Eaton, Hurst and Woodley fires — are also at zero percent containment.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom had declared a state of emergency on Tuesday night, as Santa Monica and Malibu published evacuation orders.
“7pm – Evacuated Malibu so last-minute there (were) small fires on both sides of the road as we approached PCH,” Hamill posted on his Instagram account on Tuesday night. The PCH is the Pacific Coast Highway.
At 8:15 p.m., Hamill, wife Marilou York and their dog Trixie arrived at their daughter “Chelsea’s house in Hollywood,” he added. “Most horrific fire since ’93,” he concluded, expressing hope that other people would also “stay safe.”
On Wednesday morning, all residents were urged to heed evacuation orders, stay off the roads and work from home amid poor air quality. L.A.’s iconic Griffith Park, the top film location and iconic hilltop and canyon area between Los Feliz and Burbank, is closed due to the windstorm and smoke advisories, along with Runyon Canyon, the Hollywood Reservoir and the famed Hollywood Sign.
Later Wednesday, officials shared that two people had died from the fires and that people are “not out of danger yet.”
Other Hollywood stars have taken to social media to share firsthand accounts about the blaze and its impact. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, as well as James Woods, shared on social media that they lost their homes.
Woods posted a video on X, writing: “I took this last night from our beautiful little home in the Palisades. Now all the fire alarms are going off at once remotely.” And he added: “It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say.”
Speaking to CNN on Wednesday, Woods said his entire street was burning down, and that a neighbor was able to save their 90-year-old neighbor with dementia one hour before his house burned down. “There was so much chaos, it was like an inferno. Every house was on fire around us,” he said of fleeing his home. “We were evacuated with the clothes on our back.”
Pratt’s sister Stephanie posted a photo of him with fire in the background on Instagram, sharing: “I am beyond heartbroken for my brother, Heidi & the kids. And to all of our friends and neighbors who have lost their houses today.”
Shrinking star Christa Miller, who is married to the show’s co-creator Bill Lawrence, said she was evacuating and shared a drone image of the fires raging in the distance. “Evacuating, love, prayers and gratitude to all the firefighters working so hard. This is all so heartbreaking.”
Actor Steve Guttenberg had appeared on CNN Tuesday night after spending all day helping people stranded on the PCH, of which the scenic route from Malibu to Santa Monica is now closed. He called the blaze in Pacific Palisades, of which he is a resident, “the most unbelievable fire I’ve ever seen.”
There were “mothers who were having panic attacks [and] little kids crying,” he also shared. “The cars were bumper-to-bumper traffic for over two miles and it was dangerous, the police were coming.” Concluded Guttenberg: “I spent all day moving these cars up on the hill, trying to [move them] so the fire trucks could get through.”
Chet Hanks, Tom Hanks’ son, posted on his Instagram stories that “the neighborhood I grew up in is burning to the ground.” Avengers star Chris Pratt thanked the “brave firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect lives, homes, and wildlife as they battle fast-moving wildfire fueled by fierce winds. You are true heroes, and we are endlessly grateful for your sacrifice and courage.”
Schitt’s Creek comedian Eugene Levy, who is the current honorary mayor of the Pacific Palisades, evacuated the area early Tuesday, telling The Los Angeles Times, “The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon … the smoke was very dark.”
The Palisades Fire also engulfed Palisades Charter High School, a school that has long been a popular location for Hollywood productions, including Brian De Palma’s 1976 horror classic Carrie, Danny Steinmann’s 1984 teen vigilante movie Savage Streets, the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday, the Teen Wolf TV series, Nima Nourizadeh’s 2012 film Project X, and the 2001 teen rom-com Crazy/Beautiful.
The grounds of the iconic Getty Villa caught fire and the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club was engulfed on Tuesday, as was the Pierson Playhouse (aka Theatre Palisades). The Reel Inn, a longstanding seafood restaurant, was also reportedly engulfed in flames.
Several schools in the area were closed heading into Wednesday, as many neighborhoods in L.A. were left without power starting from Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Zoo closed midday Tuesday and President Biden canceled plans to travel to Riverside County, which is adjacent to Los Angeles County.
Events throughout Hollywood were also canceled including premieres planned for Tuesday and Wednesday nights, including Amazon MGM Studios’ Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez, Universal’s Wolf Man, starring Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott, Paramount Pictures’ Better Man, Max series The Pitt and Prime Video’s On Call; as well as screenings for Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, Sony Pictures Classics’ I’m Still Here.
“The safety and well-being of our attendees, staff and community are our top priority. We are grateful for the first responders bravely working to protect our community, and our thoughts are with those affected,” said Max on Wednesday morning of canceling the Noah Wyle series premiere event amid the ongoing Palisades Fire and continued wind advisories.
The SAG Awards nominations, which were due to be announced live and in person early Wednesday morning, were instead shared via press release and the SAG Awards website. (See the nominations here.)
Roadside Attractions canceled its Wednesday night premiere for Pamela Anderson’s The Last Showgirl, saying, “We are thankful to all first responders and our thoughts are with the people being affected.”
And a number of awards season events set for Thursday and this weekend have also been canceled or postponed, most significantly the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, which was set for Sunday and has been postponed.
Additional cancellations include the American Cinematheque crafts tribute set for Thursday, Friday’s AFI Awards luncheon and BAFTA’s Saturday tea party.
AFI said in a statement, “Given the tragedies that prevail in Los Angeles, the spirit of community we strive for at AFI Awards will be unachievable on Friday — and so we will be postponing the event.”
BAFTA said, “The safety of our colleagues, friends and peers in Los Angeles remains our utmost priority and our thoughts are with everyone impacted.”
The damage and smoke engulfing the Palisades has been described as “apocalyptic,” with one local field reporter noting its resemblance to a movie set. The Associated Press reported that about 30,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
More to come.
