Horror legend Tom Savini says he is “devastated” after fire tore through his childhood home in Pittsburgh.
The “Dawn of the Dead” star, 79, and his wife Jodii escaped unharmed from the blaze at their Bloomfield residence on Friday, Aug. 15. Footage from the scene shows thick black smoke pouring from the property as firefighters positioned two ladders against the front of the house to battle the flames. A bystander can be seen breaking down in tears nearby as crews work to contain the damage.
Social media posts confirmed the fire and reassured fans about the couple’s safety. “Unfortunately, @THETomSavini home did catch fire today. Tom and his wife are safe. There was damage but luckily the amazing firefighters of Pittsburgh were able to put it out before everything was lost,” a post sharing news of the blaze stated. The same message added, “Thank you to everyone who reached out with their concerns.”
Savini told a source he is “devastated” in the wake of the fire, which struck a property with deep generational ties to his family.
The house has been in the Savini family for generations, passed down from his grandfather to his father and then to Tom himself. The Pittsburgh native was born and raised in the city’s Italian Bloomfield neighborhood, making the property more than just a residence but a anchor to his roots.
Weekend of the Dead’s Facebook page also posted about the incident, writing, “Tom Savini had a fire in his home last night. Thankfully nobody was hurt.” The fan event organization continued, “Everyone at Weekend of the Dead is thinking of Tom and Jodii at this very sad time. This is Tom’s childhood home and has passed from his grandfather to his father and to himself.”
Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames before the entire home was lost, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.
Savini built his reputation as one of horror cinema’s most influential figures through decades of groundbreaking work. The former Vietnam combat photographer made his name creating some of the genre’s most memorable gore effects, collaborating with director George A. Romero on a string of films including “Dawn of the Dead,” “Day of the Dead,” “Creepshow,” “Martin,” and “Monkey Shines.”
His special effects and makeup credits extend to horror staples such as “Friday the 13th,” “Maniac,” “The Burning,” “The Prowler,” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.” He later directed the 1990 remake of Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead,” along with three episodes of “Tales from the Darkside” and a segment of “The Theatre Bizarre.”
In front of the camera, Savini has logged decades of acting and stunt appearances, becoming as recognizable for his screen presence as for his behind-the-camera innovations.
In the viral moment that cemented his horror legacy, Savini’s practical effects work on 1978’s “Dawn of the Dead” redefined zombie cinema gore standards. His collaboration with Romero on that film and subsequent projects established a visual language for on-screen violence that influenced generations of filmmakers. The Pittsburgh connection ran deep in that partnership too, with Romero filming many of his productions in and around the city.
Beyond his film work, Savini has maintained ties to the Pittsburgh area through his involvement with the special makeup effects program at Douglas Education Center, which he helped launch in October 2000. The program trains students in the techniques he pioneered, with graduates going on to work at major effects houses and on productions including “Saturday Night Live” and Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights.
Savini has not publicly indicated when he and Jodii might return to the damaged property or what restoration plans may follow.