Actor Nicolas Cage has been displaced from his Malibu home after a sinkhole damaged his driveway in September, forcing him to live in hotels. The 25-foot-deep, 30-by-60-foot sinkhole also blocked the only road in and out of the neighborhood, prompting emergency measures.
Malibu officials issued evacuation orders for 31 homes on Sept. 8, with seven homes red-tagged as unsafe due to hazardous conditions. An additional 24 homes were red-tagged due to loss of vehicular access, according to an emergency proclamation from the City of Malibu. Gas services in the area were shut off following the incident.
Cage, who owns the $10.5 million oceanfront property, discussed his displacement during a panel at Los Angeles Comic Con on Saturday. He described himself as “a little bit homeless” and noted that he would not be greeting trick-or-treaters at home. Instead, he planned to take his daughter trick-or-treating in Santa Monica and watch The Shining.
The sinkhole formed on Sept. 7 and fully emerged the next day, according to city records. The housing association controlling the private roadway is overseeing repair efforts, which include debris removal, soil sampling, and installing sandbags to mitigate further damage from tropical storms. Officials had initially estimated repairs could take up to five weeks, though no updated timeline has been provided.
Malibu officials have not released further details about the cause of the sinkhole. Representatives for Cage did not respond to requests for comment.
Immediate Impact and Response
The sinkhole’s collapse blocked the only road in and out of the neighborhood, cutting off access for residents and emergency services. The City of Malibu declared a local emergency and issued evacuation orders for 31 homes. Seven homes were deemed structurally unsafe and red-tagged, while 24 others were red-tagged due to loss of safe vehicular access.
Emergency services, including fire and sheriff personnel, were unable to respond to medical, fire, or law enforcement emergencies in the area due to the blocked roadway. The collapse extended from the beachfront driveway into the road, exacerbating access issues.
Repair Efforts and Timeline
The private housing association responsible for the roadway is leading repair efforts, which include:
- Excavation to retrieve soil samples
- Debris removal
- Installation of sandbags to prevent further erosion
City officials had initially projected repairs could be completed within five weeks, depending on weather conditions. However, no further updates on the progress or completion date have been provided by the city or the housing association.
Actor’s Current Living Situation
Cage, who purchased the Malibu property in 2022, has been living in hotels since the sinkhole formed. He did not specify how long he has been displaced or when he expects to return home. During his Comic Con appearance, he shared that his Halloween plans included trick-or-treating with his daughter and watching The Shining, a film he described as one of his favorites.
The actor’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment regarding his living situation or the status of his home repairs.