WATCH: James Woods Breaks Down In Tears While Sharing Heartbreaking Update On CNN

Actor James Woods, the Hollywood icon known for his powerful performances and polarizing political views, delivered a heart-wrenching interview on CNN after losing his home in the Pacific Palisades wildfire. Fighting back tears, the 77-year-old recounted the devastation as a fast-moving blaze engulfed his neighborhood, forcing him and his wife, Sarah, to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs. While their house was reduced to ashes, Woods was grateful that both he and his wife emerged unharmed.

“I’m 77 years old,” Woods said, his voice breaking as tears began. “I can’t walk up these hills—it’s like Mount Everest there. It’s like, you know, pretty steep.” The veteran actor shared a touching anecdote about his 8-year-old niece, who brought her piggy bank, offering its contents to help rebuild their home. The wildfire erupted on Tuesday morning, fueled by dry brush and fierce Santa Ana winds that clocked in at over 60 miles per hour. Within hours, the flames ballooned from 10 acres to more than 200, threatening multimillion-dollar properties and landmarks like the Getty Villa.

Evacuation orders sent residents scrambling, with gridlock clogging the Pacific Coast Highway as families fled with what little they could carry. While speaking to CNN, Woods didn’t hold back his emotions, “I thought I’d be stronger than this,” Woods admitted, wiping his eyes. CNN’s anchor reassured him, saying, “Strength is not measured by whether, you know, you hold in crying or not. Strength is what you are doing now and helping your neighbors and shining a light on the great, amazing work of all those firefighters and emergency crews out there. We appreciate you coming on to reflect what so many others, just like you are experiencing in that raw emotion right now.”

The actor also provided an update on his 94-year-old neighbor, who had initially been unaccounted for. “He’s okay,” Woods said. “They found him, and he’s in the hospital. But if anyone knows where Robert Treeteller is, please let me know.” The Pacific Palisades fire is the latest in a string of catastrophic wildfires that have plagued California in recent times. In 2021, a similar fire in the area destroyed more than 1,200 acres and forced widespread evacuations.

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On Tuesday, Woods posted a brief video to his 4.5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), showing planes dropping water over his neighborhood and ash raining down around his home. “Getting ready to evacuate,” he captioned the video. The post garnered hundreds of thousands of views, with fans and critics alike offering messages of support. One user commented, “Stay safe, James. Houses can be replaced; lives can’t.” Another echoed the sentiment, writing, “Prayers for you and your neighbors.”

Known for his roles in films like Casino, Salvador, and Videodrome, Woods has built a reputation as a fierce and unfiltered personality on and off the screen. The fire has burned over 11,800 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 structures, and claimed two lives. Tens of thousands of residents are under evacuation orders as firefighters face challenges, including 100 mph wind gusts and depleted fire hydrants. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, and federal assistance, including air tankers and firefighting helicopters, has been deployed to aid containment efforts.