Movie legend 'devastated' as family home goes up in flames

Movie legend Tom Savini, whose career as an actor, filmmaker and FX make-up artist spans five decades, is said to be "devastated" after his family home was destroyed by fire. The 79-year-old, who has worked on iconic horror films such as Dawn of the Dead and From Dusk Till Dawn, grew up in the Pittsburgh home, which has been in his family for generations. Footage taken from outside the property, which is in the Bloomfield area, shows plumes of black smoke billowing as firefighters battle to suppress the blaze, which occurred on Saturday, August 15.

Slasher Radio posted a clip of the fire on X and penned: "Special Effects Legend Tom Savini's home caught fire yesterday. Tom and his wife Jodii are safe. There was damage to the home and property, but the fire was controlled and put out before all was lost. Thoughts and prayers to the Savini family."

In the clip, two ladders are visible perched against the front of the house as crews work at the scene. Meanwhile, a bystander seems to be in tears.

Although firefighters managed to extinguish the fire before it was completely destroyed, the property, the New York Post reported, Savini has told a source he is "devastated".

The house was previously owned by his grandfather, who passed it down to his father, before it ultimately became his. Segments of the 2015 documentary about his work, Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini, were filmed there.

The full extent of the damage is not yet known, and it's unclear if many of his personal belongings were destroyed by the fire.

The star is known for keeping a massive collection of horror props and rare movie memorabilia in his home, which also served as his creative workshop.

Tom is one of the most respected names in horror and created some of the genre's most memorable gore, working on George A. Romero films including Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Creepshow, and Monkey Shines.

Away from his collaboration with Romero, he also worked on horror classics such as Friday the 13th, Maniac, The Burning, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.

The Vietnam veteran is also a director and helmed the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead, as well as three episodes of Tales from the Darkside and a segment of The Theatre Bizarre.