PARIS – A-list Hollywood actor George Clooney and his family have been compelled to abandon their countryside residence in southeastern France after an out-of-control wildfire encroached on the local area, his representative confirmed to reporters this Thursday.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker, best known for headlining the blockbuster *Ocean’s Eleven* franchise and decades of acclaimed film and television roles, shared details of his family’s evacuation in a personal letter addressed to Didier Bremond, the mayor of Brignoles. Brignoles is a small regional town located roughly 55 miles northeast of the Mediterranean port city of Marseille. Publicist Guido Gotz verified the authenticity of the correspondence in an email response to the Associated Press.
In the warm, community-focused message opening with “Dear Didier,” Clooney acknowledged that the outcome for his property remained uncertain as the blaze continued to spread. “At this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment,” the actor wrote. Despite the uncertainty facing his own assets, Clooney made clear that his first priorities were the safety of local residents and his commitment to the region he calls a second home.
He outlined two core points he wanted to share with local leadership: “first we hope you and the people of our city are safe and second that Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village,” Clooney stated, referencing his human rights lawyer wife Amal Clooney. “We are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole.”