Steve Guttenberg, beloved for his roles in Police Academy and Three Men and a Baby, proved he’s a hero off-screen as well.
When wildfires raged through Los Angeles County, threatening his Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Guttenberg sprang into action to help his community.
In an interview with CNN, Guttenberg described the terrifying scene. “At 9 a.m., it was an idyllic Pacific Palisades. By 10:30, the sky was pitch black like it was nighttime,” he said. The fast-moving fires left thousands facing evacuation orders, heavy smoke, and unpredictable flames.
A Community in Chaos
While trying to get home, Guttenberg encountered gridlock and chaos. Instead of waiting, he jumped into action, moving abandoned cars that were blocking evacuation routes. “There are people stuck up there—families and pets that really need help,” he told KTLA. “I walked as far as I could, clearing cars to make way for firetrucks.”
The actor witnessed panic firsthand. “Mothers were having panic attacks. Kids were crying. Some people didn’t speak English and were struggling to drive unfamiliar cars,” Guttenberg recalled. “Eventually, the fire got so close that people had to abandon their cars and evacuate on foot.”
The devastation didn’t stop there. Other celebrities also faced the wrath of the fires. Star Wars actor Mark Hamill evacuated his Malibu home with his wife and dog. “Small fires were burning on both sides of the road as we reached the highway,” Hamill shared on Instagram, calling it the worst fire since 1993.
James Woods, another affected resident, shared a video of flames surrounding his Pacific Palisades home. “Losing everything at once tests your soul,” Woods wrote on social media. In an emotional CNN interview, he recounted how his eight-year-old niece offered her piggy bank to help rebuild their home, bringing him to tears.
The fires also consumed parts of Pacific Palisades High School, known as a filming location for movies like Carrie and Freaky Friday. The blaze, now referred to as the Palisades Fire, has burned nearly 3,000 acres with no containment in sight.
Reflecting on the crisis, Guttenberg shared a powerful message. “None of the material things—cars, jewels—matter. What matters is people,” he said. His actions and words have inspired many during a dark and devastating time for the community.
