Former Child Star Rory Sykes Dead at 32 in L.A. Fire, Mom Couldn’t Extinguish ‘Cinders on His Roof’

 The Los Angeles wildfires continue to cause devastation across California.

Former child actor Rory Callum Sykes is among the growing list of victims who have lost their lives in the fires. The Australian actor—who starred on the British TV show Kiddy Kapers—was 32.

“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires,” his mom Shelley Sykes shared on X Jan. 9. “I’m totally heart broken. British born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine & his grandmas birthday 29 July 92, Rory Callum Sykes.”

Born blind and with cerebral palsy, Rory had difficulty walking, according to his mom, and lived in his own cottage on the family’s 17-acre Malibu property. 

As embers rained down on their home, his mom tried to call 911 but was unable to connect to get help. “He died needlessly,” she told Australian outlet 10 News First. “He said ‘Mom, leave me,’ and no mom can leave their kid.”

When emergency services finally did arrive, the hydrants had no water, and, as she put it on X, “the 50 brave fire fighters had no water all day.”

X/Shelley Skyes

Throughout his life, Rory was known as a fighter. “He overcame so much with surgeries & therapies to regain his sight & to be able to learn to walk,” Shelley wrote. “Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.”

“@rorysykes was a sought after inspirational speaker for @TonyRobbins when he was only 8 years old. @CallumsCure book first published by @simonschuster in Australia was about his courage.”

More recently, he and his mom had founded Happy Charity and he was “a true humanitarian,” his mom shared in her tribute. " He saw him self as the number one fan of @Apple & @tim_cook & most importantly an avid @RuneScape gamer!"

As she wrote, "He will be incredibly missed.”

Read on for how the fires have impacted Hollywood and beyond...

(Photo by TheStewartofNY/GC Images)

Gwyneth Paltrow

The Iron Man actress took to social media to express her sadness about the tragedy that has fallen over her beloved city.

“We are in deep grief for so many of our close friends who have lost everything,” she wrote in her Jan. 9 Instagram post. “Thank you to those inquiring, we are currently safe. When the fires are out there will be more to say and everything to do.”

“The city of angels will need angels of all kind,” she continued. “Please everyone, stay safe and vigilant.”

(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images) / Bryan Greenberg, Instagram

Jamie Chung & Bryan Greenberg

The Once Upon a Time actress and the One Tree Hill actor are sharing resources after tragically losing their home in the Los Angeles fire.

“It was all a dream,” Bryan wrote on a Jan. 9 Instagram story, showing the rubble that was once their family home. “Thankfully the family is safe. Thank you to all the firefighters risking their lives. Stay safe out there.”

And in between posting helpful resources, Jamie shared a tragic video of their entire neighborhood.

“Damn. Our entire neighborhood is gone,” she wrote Jan. 9. “We are grateful to our brave firefighters and first responders and pray we don’t lose any more lives to these catastrophic fires. Stay safe and stay vigilant.”