Mother of former child star killed in Palisades Fire speaks on devastating loss

In an emotional interview, Shelley Sykes, the mother of former child actor Rory Sykes who died in their Malibu home amid the Palisades Fire, shared her harrowing story and grieved the devastating loss of her son.  

Shelley fought back tears recalling the final moments with 32-year-old Rory, who was born blind and lived with cerebral palsy.

On Jan. 7, when the Palisades Fire broke out, the mother and son stayed behind at their Malibu home believing they were safe. Overnight, though, as the wind-driven fire escalated and sent embers flying onto their property, a massive flare up trapped Rory, who has difficulty walking, inside his cottage.

“I drove up to the top of his cottage, turned on the hose pipe and no water came out of it,” Shelley explained. “I raced back down and dialed 911 but 911 wasn’t working and all the lines were down for emergencies.”

Despite her best efforts, she says Rory locked himself in his cottage and told his mother to save herself instead.

“He was always worried about me, I think he felt guilty I did so much for him,” Shelley told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “He was my baby. No mommy leaves her kid when they’re special.”

Shelley said that she grabbed her peacocks and drove down to try and get help, but when firefighters returned, the cottage as well as the main were completely destroyed by fire.

Officials have yet to retrieve the former child star’s remains from the charred rubble of the cottage.

“His life should have been celebrated because he was pretty awesome. I’m sending love and peace to everyone out there suffering,” Rory’s mother said. “Nobody should go through this.”

As a child, Sykes hosted “Kiddy Kapers,” a British television show produced by his mother. He soon realized he did not like “life in front of the camera,” and went on to be “a philanthropist, investor, gamer, developer, founder, speaker, and mentor,” his website explains.