Milo Ventimiglia, best known for his role in This Is Us, became another victim of the devastating wildfire that recently swept through a wealthy area in Los Angeles. The wildfire has wreaked havoc on many, and Ventimiglia’s family home in Malibu was no exception, with the actor and his wife, Jarah Mariano, watching helplessly as it was consumed by flames.
In an emotional interview with CBS, Ventimiglia opened up about the harrowing experience. He shared that on January 7, 2025, he and his wife were forced to evacuate immediately for their safety, only to watch their dream home burn to the ground. Ventimiglia recalled the shock of the moment, describing how he realized the severity of the situation as he saw the flames engulf their property. He said, “There is a shock moment where you go, ‘This is real, and this is happening.’” He even watched the destruction unfold through the security camera feed, but after some time, he turned it off, feeling that there was no point in continuing to watch the footage of his home burning.
Reflecting on the devastating loss, Ventimiglia noted an eerie parallel to his character, Jack Pearson, from This Is Us. In the show, Jack’s character also experiences the destruction of his home in a similar manner. “It’s not lost on me, life imitating art,” Ventimiglia remarked, acknowledging the strange coincidence between his real-life tragedy and his character’s storyline.
As the wildfires raged on, Ventimiglia and Mariano, who is pregnant with their first child, grabbed as much as they could and fled the area. The couple’s baby is expected to arrive any day now, adding an extra layer of urgency and emotion to an already challenging situation.
This devastating event has left Ventimiglia and his family grappling with the loss of their home, but the actor has found strength in the support of his loved ones and in the resilience that comes with facing such a catastrophic event.