Jane Seymour on Helping ‘Dr. Quinn’ Co-Star Joe Lando Through Fire Tragedy: “There Is Huge Love Between Our Families”

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Between 1993 and 1998, Jane Seymour and Joe Lando acted together on the popular CBS Western series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. During this time, it was obvious there was a strong connection between them as they even dated during filming of the pilot episode. However, they soon recognized that their bond was destined to be a lifelong friendship rather than a romantic relationship, and have continued to be close friends ever since. In 2022, they reunited for the Lifetime movie A Christmas Spark, which turned out to be one of the network’s highest-rated holiday films.

63-year-old Lando resided in Pacific Palisades alongside his wife, three kids, daughter-in-law, two dogs (Bo, a German Shepherd, and Rosie, a Border Collie Lab), and two parakeets. Not far off in Malibu lived Seymour, 73, who, like Lando, was forced to leave due to the fires. Seymour found temporary shelter with a friend in Calabasas, who coincidentally shares an ex-spouse with her. “We brought up our children together,” she notes. “Our friendship dates back to the start, which people find hard to believe, but it’s the truth.

Fortunately, her house remains intact. Sadly, Lando’s has been destroyed. Though generally secretive, he took to Instagram to express his grief over the cherished home he had cared for throughout the years. Currently, Lando is dealing with the emotional toll of losing everything and navigating the bureaucratic process of submitting FEMA and insurance reports. In the meantime, Seymour and her boyfriend John Zambetti have generously opened their doors to accommodate Lando’s family and pets.

Lando shares that everyone is doing well in his family. The dogs appear a bit puzzled by the current situation, as we haven’t had an opportunity yet to bring them home and explain that our old house no longer exists. I believe they should be made aware of this new place since they seem eager to return.

Seymour shared his thoughts with The Hollywood Reporter regarding supporting the Landos during their difficult period.

Initially, Joe and I have always had a strong bond, but it’s recently become clear that our friendship has grown even stronger. We’ve taken up cohabitation, cooking meals together, and supporting each other through thick and thin. When this change occurred, I instinctively called out to him, “Joe, over here.” And he came. Joe has a sizable family, consisting of four children, one grandchild, two dogs, and two budgies. Despite the crowd, I feel confident that they feel at ease here because they’ve visited frequently and are familiar with our home.

Our friendship with Joe has always been tight-knit, but it’s evident now that we’re tighter than ever. We’ve moved in together, cook meals together, and share our ups and downs. When this shift happened, I just naturally said, “Joe, let’s catch up.” And he did. Joe’s family is quite extensive — four kids, one of them married, two dogs, two parakeets, and him and his wife. Yet, I trust that they feel comfortable here because they’ve been here often and know our house like the back of their hand.

Joe has consistently exhibited a similar trait to his character on Dr. Quinn, by constantly asserting, “I’ll take care of this. This requires fixing, Jane. I can handle it.” This is simply his nature and his background. Previously, he was a cook, many years ago. He even has a compact propane gas stove for camping. Since we don’t have gas at home right now, he’s set up a makeshift kitchen outside.

Over time, it’s become apparent that we cherish each other deeply and are always ready to support one another. They’ve been my constant companions through thick and thin. In moments when I believed I was losing everything, packing whatever belongings I could into bags at the last minute before leaving what I considered home, they were there with barely anything themselves – just the clothes on their backs. Initially, they thought they’d be away for a day or two.

(Alternative version)
It has been clear to see that we hold each other dearly and are quick to lend a helping hand. They have stood by me in every situation. On numerous occasions when I felt like I was losing everything, gathering whatever possessions I could into bags as I left what I considered home behind, they were there with only the clothes on their backs. At first, they believed they would be gone for just a day or two.

The extraordinary kindness shown by people is evident everywhere, including in my circle of friends. Everyone seems to be donating clothes or purchasing items for others. Recently, even my housekeeper bought a shirt for Joe and a tracksuit for his wife Kirsten. The person with the fewest resources was quick to find something that brought joy to them. It wasn’t just any item; she had carefully selected it, knowing their preferences, sizes, and what would look good on them. This act touched Joe so much that he started crying. Despite John’s allergy to dogs, we’ve somehow turned into a dog-friendly community, as they seem drawn to him.

However, there’s a wonderful discovery in this – the closeness we share and the deep-seated appreciation we have for being each other’s support system. It’s heartwarming to know that I can rely on him and his family, who have consistently been my pillars of strength. The bond between our families is profoundly strong, filled with a vast ocean of love.

Joe and I first crossed paths on the show “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” which was 34 years ago. During that time, we had a short romantic relationship while filming the pilot, but eventually parted ways only to reunite later when our series was picked up. There were challenging moments at times, but we’ve always shared an unbreakable bond. After the show wrapped, our friendship blossomed once more, and I have grown particularly close with his wife Kirsten, as well as their children. My house has always been a welcoming space for their family, no matter what life threw at us. Our kids essentially grew up together, with Joe’s being slightly younger than mine; I believe that my son’s clothes were well-utilized by Joe’s boys as they grew up.

I’m on the verge of starting a project related to writing an autobiography. As I rummage through my extensive collection of Dr. Quinn memorabilia and other items from years gone by, I can’t help but wonder, “What should I do with all this?” Discovering old photographs, reading through letters penned in the past, even revisiting my own written accounts of emotions experienced during significant life events – it’s all here. And as I sift through these keepsakes, I can’t help but reflect, “This is what you may lose,” but what you don’t surrender are your memories and the affection for people that remain deeply ingrained within you.

Amidst the global turmoil, it’s heartening to witness instances like these when disaster strikes and we truly realize who stands tall amidst adversity. It’s during such times that one observes the extraordinary acts of kindness and resilience even from those who are grappling with their own hardships. This is what keeps me hopeful about our world, as it serves as a reminder that at our core, we are all fellow human beings navigating our way through this insignificant yet significant speck in the cosmos.

For three-and-a-half years during World War 2, my mother endured captivity in a Japanese camp in Indonesia. She found it hard to discuss her experiences and instead chose to suppress them, keeping them contained within a specific part of her mind. However, despite this emotional barrier, our home was always bustling with visitors. We referred to these guests as “the wandering and the lost,” but there was no need for a crisis for our house to serve as a hub for any act of kindness we could extend. This behavior was commonplace in our household.

Time and again, I find myself reflecting on my mom’s words: “Healing comes from opening your heart and lending a helping hand to another soul. When you have purpose, it empowers self-love and propels you forward in life.” It doesn’t take much searching to discover someone who is struggling more than me.

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2025-01-16 01:55