Rory Sykes, former child actor and humanitarian, dies in devastating Malibu wildfires

Rory Sykes, a former Australian child actor known for his appearance on the British TV show Kiddy Kapers in the 1990s, tragically lost his life in the deadly Palisades Fire that ravaged parts of Los Angeles and Malibu in early January. The 32-year-old, born blind with cerebral palsy, had defied numerous odds throughout his life, overcoming physical challenges to become an inspiration to many.

On January 8, a devastating wildfire, sparked by embers from the Palisades Fire, engulfed his home on a 17-acre estate in Malibu. Despite his mother, author Shelley Sykes' desperate attempts to save him, she was unable to reach him due to a broken arm and lack of water to combat the flames. Tragically, when firefighters arrived, they found the cottage reduced to ashes. Rory had succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Shelley Sykes’ heartbreaking tribute


In an emotional post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Shelley Sykes expressed her profound grief. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heartbroken,” she wrote, detailing her son's incredible life journey and the immense challenges he overcame.


Despite being born blind and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Rory underwent several surgeries and therapies that partially restored his sight and allowed him to walk—defying expectations and showing remarkable strength. From a young age, Rory became a sought-after motivational speaker, even working with famed speaker Tony Robbins when he was just 8 years old. Shelley also mentioned that her son’s book, Callum's Cure, was first published by Simon & Schuster, reflecting his courage and resilience.

A life of giving back

Rory was not only an advocate for overcoming personal struggles but also a passionate humanitarian. Alongside his mother, he founded the Happy Charity, which focused on helping others, especially those facing physical and mental challenges. Shelley's tribute paints a picture of Rory as a driven and generous soul, who used his platform to inspire others and make the world a better place.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Rory was a huge fan of technology, particularly Apple, and was known as an ardent supporter of the company. Shelley mentioned that Rory’s cottage on their Malibu estate was outfitted with the latest Apple gadgets, a testament to his love for all things tech.

The fire that took it all

On January 7, the Palisades Fire broke out, eventually spreading across over 20,000 acres of land in Los Angeles and Malibu. As the fire quickly escalated, it decimated many homes, including the Sykes family’s Malibu estate. Shelley, with a broken arm, desperately tried to save her son’s cottage, but the situation was compounded by the local water district shutting off the water supply. She recounted, “I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off by @LVMWD Las Virgenes Municipal Water.” Even the brave firefighters battling the blaze faced dire conditions, with Shelley revealing that, “Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day!”

The fire's damage was immense, with flames reaching dangerously close to untouched neighbourhoods, including the Getty Center art museum, and scorching homes to nothing but charred remains. As the fire raged on, at least 16 people were confirmed dead, with many more injured. The relentless winds only fueled the blaze, making it harder for firefighters to gain control.