Make-up effects artist Tom Savini is the king of his craft, that is undeniable.
His work with George Romero changed the horror landscape, and made gore the “in” thing during the late 1970s.
Since then, it seemed Savini moved from one seminal classic to another, including Friday the 13th, The Burning, Creepshow, and Day of the Dead to name only a few.
We adore Tom, and fans would do anything for him. Well, now, that’s more important than ever before, as Tom Savini needs our help.
Unfortunately, Tom and his wife were victim to a devastating electrical fire on August 14th.
The blaze caused extensive damage to their residence in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, leaving the home uninhabitable. Whilst Savini and his wife escaped the fire unharmed, sadly their cats Max and Bruce succumbed to the blaze.
Alongside the loss of their beloved pets, the Savini’s also lost irreplaceable personal possessions and beloved family heirlooms.
Unfortunately, this extends to Savini’s glittering career in the make-up effects industry. Priceless sculpts, props, and pieces of Tom’s memorabilia collection were lost in the fire, adding an extra layer of devastation to the situation.
Now, Savini’s friend and colleague Jason Baker is calling upon the horror community to rally around Tom and show their support.
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized on Savini’s behalf, seeking to help the family get back on their feet, fund repairs, and pay for temporary accommodation. In the description, Baker states:
“The damage was severe. Thankfully, Tom and his wife were not injured, but their two beloved cats, Max and Bruce, were tragically killed. This was not just a house—it has been Tom’s home base for 80 years, and it has been in Tom’s family for almost a century. For Tom, this loss is deeply personal and far beyond the damage to the building itself. This is a traumatic situation for anyone to endure at any age. It has been especially difficult for Tom being a senior citizen 80 years old.”
The campaign seeks to raise $90,000 to aid the Savini’s plight, but as Baker states, anything will help.
Our thoughts are with Tom and his family as they rebuild, and we hope that sharing their story will help even a tiny bit.
If you’d like to donate to the Savini’s, you can do so at the link below:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-tom-savini-after-house-fire?cp_src=d
