Former Child Star Dies at Age 32 in California Fires
An Australian actor who overcame blindness and cerebral palsy to become a star on British television as a child has been overcome by the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Rory Callum Sykes, 32, achieved fame and fortune in the U.K. in the 1990s on the show “Kiddy Kapers,” according to CNN. As an adult, he helped found the group Happy Charity.
But when deadly fires swept through Malibu last week, it was too much.
Sykes’ mother, Shelley Sykes, announced the tragic circumstances in a post on the social media platform X on Thursday.
It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. 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… pic.twitter.com/X77xyk83gx
— Shelley Sykes (@shelleysykes) January 9, 2025
Rory had a private cottage on a family estate in Malibu “decked out with all the latest apple gadgets,” she wrote.
But swirling embers from the wildfires landed on the roof of the cottage.
“I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off by @LVMWD Las Virgenes Municipal Water. Even the 50 brave fire fighters had no water all day!” Sykes wrote.
The death was major news in Australia. A report from the news program “10 News First” is below:
“He was my baby, and he died needlessly,” Sykes told the broadcast.
Despite his disabilities, Rory Sykes knew the dangers his family was facing from the fires.
“He said, ‘Mum, leave me,'” Sykes said. “No mum can leave their kid.”
Sykes told the broadcast she was disabled herself by a broken arm, which left her unable to move her son. She drove to a local fire station for help, “10 News First” reported.
But the fire department had no water. Firefighters were armed only with axes.
When Sykes returned to the cottage with firefighters, she said, the cottage was “burned to the ground.”
Sykes did have some, small good news from the tragedy that’s befallen her family — and Los Angeles County. Her son “died with carbon monoxide poisoning rather than burning,” she told “10 News First.”
“I didn’t want any pain for my baby,” she said, sobbing.
Condolences poured in on social media:
So sorry for your loss Shelley Sykes, a huge loss of your beautiful and amazing son Rory.
— Vera Deans Vucicevic : Mixed Media Artist/Designer (@VeraDeansArt) January 12, 2025
So sorry for your loss.
Will pray for you and your son. God bless you.— Phil (@philyourday) January 11, 2025
I’m so very sorry for the loss of your son, Shelley. It was obviously a very traumatic experience.
Prayers up for you and your family. I hope your arm heals soon.
Rest in Peace, Rory Sykes. 🙏💜
— Kristi L. Talmadge (@KristiTalmadge) January 11, 2025
Sykes ended her X post with words that were no doubt an understatement in a mother’s words for her son: “He will be incredibly missed.”
“He will be incredibly missed by @shelleysykes, mama his pet peacocks Edgee & Mickie & all his online fans around the world!” she wrote.
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