'This Is Us' star, Milo Ventimiglia, and his expecting wife share heart-wrenching details of losing his home to the recent Los Angeles wildfires, watching the inferno destroyed their property via security camera.
- Jan 10, 2025
AceShowbiz - The recent Los Angeles wildfires have left a trail of destruction, and among those severely affected is Milo Ventimiglia. On January 7, the actor and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, were forced to evacuate their Malibu home as the Palisades Fire raged through their neighborhood.
At nine months pregnant, Mariano's safety, along with their dog's, became the couple's utmost priority. With limited time, they grabbed whatever they could before evacuation, but everything in their baby's nursery was lost.
In an emotional interview with CBS Evening News, Ventimiglia was overcome with emotion as he revealed how they watched their beloved home burn down in security camera footage.
Reflecting on that harrowing experience, he mentioned, "I think there's a kind of shock moment where you going, 'Oh, this is real. This is happening,' " before eventually deciding to turn off the footage as they accepted the loss.
The actor, known for his roles in "This Is Us" and "Gilmore Girls," found the situation's irony hard to ignore. His character in "This Is Us," Jack Pearson, tragically dies from smoke inhalation after saving his family from a house fire. "It's not lost on me, life imitating art," Ventimiglia said about the stark similarities between his real-life and on-screen experiences.
"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," he said, holding back tears.
Despite the devastation, Ventimiglia remains resolute. "We got good friends, and we got good people we're working with, and we'll make due. Wife and baby and dog most important," he asserted.
The wildfires have been unforgiving, engulfing homes of many other Hollywood celebrities, including Mandy Moore, who also escaped the flames in Altadena, California, due to the Eaton Fire. As of now, several wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, forcing nearly 180,000 residents to evacuate, causing extensive damage and leaving many homeless.
Ventimiglia's tragedy brings attention not only to the destructive capability of natural disasters but also highlights the importance of community and resilience. In the face of immense personal loss, Ventimiglia's story shows the strength of human spirit and the essential value of what truly matters - family and safety.
