California – Rory Callum Sykes, a former child actor born in the UK, tragically passed away in the California wildfires that devastated the state this week. Sykes, best known for his role in the Australian TV series Kiddy Kapers, was 32 years old at the time of his death. He was at his family’s home in Malibu when the fires broke out.
The heartbreaking news was shared by his mother, Shelley Sykes, on X/Twitter. Shelley, who also appeared in the 1998 reality series Kerri-Anne, wrote: “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday.”
Sykes had relocated to the United States from Sydney, Australia, where he had been living and working as a video game streamer. Born blind and with cerebral palsy, Sykes had undergone several surgeries to restore his sight and help him learn to walk. He had been a vocal advocate for overcoming challenges and was deeply passionate about travel, having journeyed with his mother to places like Africa and Antarctica.
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At the time of his death, Sykes was living in a cottage on his family’s Malibu estate. His mother recounted how she was unable to extinguish the cinders on his roof, as the local water supply had been turned off. “Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day,” she wrote in her emotional post.
The wildfires, which began on January 7 in Los Angeles, have caused at least 11 confirmed deaths, with the toll expected to rise. Sykes’ death has not yet been included in the official count. The fires in Pacific Palisades and Eaton are among the most destructive in California’s history.
Among those affected by the fires is Actor Jennifer Garner, who also lost a friend in the disaster. Garner expressed her grief while distributing food to evacuees with the World Central Kitchen nonprofit organization. “I can think of 100 families, and there are 5,000 homes lost,” she said, visibly emotional. “My heart bleeds for my friends.”
