THE Addams Family’s Carel Struycken and his wife Tracey have been left devastated after “losing everything” in the LA fires.
The couple’s family have now started a GoFundMe to help the pair, as they come to terms with the loss of their beloved home.
Carel – who played Lurch in the the 90s Addams Family movies – joins the thousands and thousands of LA natives who watched their houses burn to the ground.
Like most others, the actor and wife Tracey have been left with nothing following the terrifying blazes.
Their family have now jumped into action to help the couple as they deal with the heartbreaking loss.
Setting up a GoFundMe page their son-in-law Michael, who is married to their daughter, posted: “On the evening of Tuesday, January 7, 2025, my in-laws looked outside to see flames coming over the ridge near their Altadena, CA home.
“They quickly grabbed a few essential items and fled.
“The following day, their fears were confirmed: their home of 12+ years had been destroyed by the Eaton Fire.
“Many of you know my father-in-law, Carel, from his acting roles in Twin Peaks, The Addams Family, Star Trek: TNG, Men In Black, and many other titles.
“He’s also a skilled photographer and digital image editor.
“My mother-in-law, Tracey, is a dedicated family medicine doctor who works extremely hard. She’s a model mom and grandmother.
“We’re so very thankful they were able to safely escape the oncoming blaze, but like so many others, they lost everything to the Eaton Fire.
Scot loses home In California wildfires
“Please keep Carel, Tracey, and all those affected by the fires in your thoughts and prayers.”
Continuing, Mike said: “All funds will be used by Carel & Tracey as they seek to recover from this tragedy and begin the process of rebuilding their home.
“For the record: I’m Mike and I live in Arizona. I’ve been married to Carel & Tracey’s daughter for 11 wonderful years and I’ve known them for more than 22.
“We live in Arizona but had been visiting Altadena just three days before the Eaton Fire began.”
Anyone who wishes to help the couple can donate here.
Carel is best known for playing Lurch in The Addams Family.
He has previously spoken out about rocketing to fame in the blockbuster movie.
Carel said: “It has been a revelation to discover how many people identify with the Addams Family.
“I guess people who have always felt a bit out of place in our society.”
Yet the star then told how he wasn’t a fan of horror films and said: “Not in general, but there are a few exceptions.”
The Twin Peaks actor added to devolutionmagazine.co.uk about his preferred roles and said: “I really don’t like to play menacing gangster types.
“Otherwise I will consider any character, as long as it is not grounded in reality too much.”
The Addams Family, originally a comic strip, was a hit TV series before the movie was released in 1991.
The sequel, Addams Family Values, came out two years later.
There was also a Netflix spin-off, called Wednesday, in 2022.
Sharing pics of the recent reunion online, Christopher wrote: “The family that haunts together, stays together.”
Raul Julia, who played the role of Addams Family patriarch Gomez, died in 1994.
The actor had been secretly battling stomach cancer for three years before his death.
Resources for the Los Angeles wildfires
As wildfires continue to grow in and around Los Angeles cities, residents can reach out for help with resources and aid offered by organizations throughout the area.
To keep track of the live fire movements, residents can download the Watch Duty app or use its website.
You can register for emergency notifications through Alert LA County.
A comprehensive list of resources is available here.
Available shelters for evacuating residents include:
- Calvary Community Church
- Ritchie Valens Recreation Center
- Pan Pacific Recreational Center
- Westwood Recreation Center
- Pasadena Civic Auditorium
- Pomona Fairplex
- Stoner Recreation Center
Available animal shelters include:
- Agoura Animal Care Center
- Baldwin Park Animal Care Center
- Carson Animal Care Center
- Downey Animal Care Center
- Lancaster Animal Care Center
- Palmdale Animal Care Center
- Pomona Fairplex
- Industry Hills Expo
- Antelope Valley Fair
Free meals are being distributed to evacuees at restaurants and kitchens including:
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