Luke Wilson was convinced he would burn alive when he found himself stuck in a broken lift. The 54-year-old actor described the moment as something out of the "tower of terror."
Trapped After Anniversary Screening
On 6 July, Wilson attended a 30th anniversary screening of Bottle Rocket at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, alongside director Wes Anderson. After the event, both men entered a lift to head to their cars, but it stopped midway.
All 11 occupants, including Wilson, Anderson, and fellow Hollywood director James L. Brooks, had to wait an hour for the Los Angeles Fire and Rescue Department to free them.
Fear of Fire
Speaking to Digital Spy, Wilson explained his thoughts during the ordeal. While trying to figure out how to use the toilet surrounded by 10 other people, he began to worry about safety. "It was getting hot and I didn't say it but I thought 'If they can't get this open, what if there was a fire?'"
Firefighters eventually arrived and freed the trapped star. Wilson praised the team for the "great job" they did, but expressed surprise at the pace of the rescue. After demonstrating how slowly the responders moved, he said: "I was like 'Guys, I was looking for a little more of an adventure story, kind of hustle'. But they did a great job! They got us out."
Lift Had Previous Issues
Wilson revealed the lift had already caused problems earlier that night. When he arrived, he had to take the stairs. By the time the event ended, they thought the lift was fixed and entered, only to find it still malfunctioned.
Wilson is known for films like Legally Blonde, where he played love interest Emmett, as well as Charlie's Angels, the Anchorman films, The Family Stone, and Zombieland: Double Tap. He has worked with Wes Anderson multiple times, starting with Bottle Rocket and continuing with Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.
Personal News
Wilson's terrifying lift ordeal came just after he welcomed his first baby with partner Kendall Yates, 24. The couple appeared publicly last week at a California press event for Wilson's Netflix series, The Hawk, bringing their newborn daughter. Many social media users congratulated the new parents, while others highlighted the 30-year age gap. One user wrote: "Imagine being 30 when your wife was born. No thanks." Another noted Yates is "younger than Legally Blonde," while a third suggested she had "more in common with the baby." Wilson and Yates have been linked since at least 2023, maintaining privacy around their relationship.
