Hollywood celebrities see their house go up in flames – fate of Paul Verhoeven’s villa uncertain

‘My heart is broken. Watching our house in Malibu on television with my family [Californië] burning down is something no one should have to experience,” wrote Paris Hilton. The burning down of her house in Malibu – which she may have heard from her main residencea seven-bedroom, 13-bathroom mansion in Beverly Hills with neighbors Justin Bieber and Adele – was one of many reports about the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area, where it was reported Thursday afternoon that at least five people had died and at least 40 square kilometers have been reduced to ashes.

Paris Hilton wasn’t the only celebrity affected by the fires. Movie stars like Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Billy Crystal, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler and Michael Keaton live in the wealthy Pacific Palisades, where the epicenter of the fires was located. It is also the place where Dutch director Paul Verhoeven has a house with his wife Martine. He was evacuated with his wife and their two dogs on Tuesday evening. They have now been safely housed with friends, according to Verhoeven’s spokesperson. He fears the worst the villa, located close to the coastal road next to the Portrero canyon.

‘Everything is gone’

Actor Billy Crystal (76) lost the house he had lived in since 1979. “We raised our children and grandchildren there, every corner of our house was filled with love. No one can take those wonderful memories away from us,” he said. Movie stars Adam Brody and Ricki Lake (“Everything gone, I can’t believe I’m typing this”) also lost their homes. Actor James Woods described on CNN how a 94-year-old neighbor with dementia was almost overlooked in the chaos of the evacuation. He didn’t know yet what condition his house was in.

A new fire broke out early Wednesday morning in Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills, near tourist attractions such as the Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theater and the Dolby Theater, where the Oscars are presented. The staff at The Hollywood Bowl was evacuated, but the fire brigade got the fire under control fairly quickly, partly because fire-fighting planes and helicopters could be deployed due to decreasing winds. The complete evacuation of all of Hollywood north of Hollywood Boulevard was lifted around midnight. According to witnesses, the tourist attraction Magic Castle, a meeting point for magicians and illusionists, was briefly in immediate danger.

Historical heritage

In the Pacific Palisades, several well-known buildings went up in flames, including Wil Rogers’ 30-room Ranch House, a local synagogue and the Palisades Charter School, the setting of many a high-school movie. The Getty Villa Museum with its valuable collection of ancient art survived the fire. Because the grass and shrubs around the museum are regularly mowed, it has its own water basin and a filter system that protects the art collection against smoke damage.

The famous, meter-high Hollywood letters are on the ‘good’ side of the fire and appear safe. But the destruction of cultural heritage is not over yet. The Eames House, an American architectural highlight of the 20th century, and Villa Aurora – the house where German writer Thomas Mann lived after fleeing the Nazis – are feared.

To share





Email the editor