Milo Ventimiglia Opens Up About Filming ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ After Losing His Home and Welcoming Baby Girl

Milo Ventimiglia is sharing how life changed for him while filming his new movie “I Can Only Imagine 2.” The film arrives in theaters this Friday, and the actor says working on it came at a very emotional time in his life.

In the sequel to the 2018 hit faith-based film, Land of Bad star Ventimiglia plays Tim Timmons, a real-life Christian singer-songwriter. In 2001, Timmons was told he had terminal cancer and was given only five years to live. More than twenty years later, he is still alive.

Speaking to USA TODAY, the 48-year-old actor said playing Timmons was deeply meaningful.

“He’s able to hold grief and gratitude in the same regard,” Ventimiglia said. “My job is to honor this real-life human being.”

The role connected closely to what the actor was going through at home. In January 2025, Ventimiglia and his family lost their Malibu home in the California wildfires. Just weeks later, he and his wife Jarah Mariano welcomed their first child, a baby girl.

Soon after, the family packed up a truck and trailer — along with their 100-pound dog Duke — and drove across the country to Nashville so Ventimiglia could begin filming “I Can Only Imagine 2.” The movie’s production company, Kingdom Come, offered him the chance to step away from the project, but he chose to continue.

“We found it a very healing process to be in Nashville,” the actor shared. He said losing a home and welcoming a child at the same time felt like two opposite experiences happening together — something that mirrored Tim Timmons’ real-life story.

Back in 2001, while facing his cancer diagnosis, Timmons was also expecting a child with his wife. At the time, he was preparing to tour with the band MercyMe, whose song “I Can Only Imagine” inspired the first film.

Even though Ventimiglia is not Christian, he said he respects the message of faith and community shown in the movie. He explained that his own beliefs lean more toward Eastern mysticism, but he values anything that brings people together.

While filming, Ventimiglia was also handling insurance claims and searching for a new home. His family has since settled again in Los Angeles, though they spent much of the year traveling for work in places like Toronto, New York, and Vancouver.

There is even more joy ahead for the family. Ventimiglia revealed that he and Mariano are expecting their second child this year, calling the news a “total surprise.”

Fans may also notice the actor sharing more online. After a three-year break, Ventimiglia returned to Instagram in late 2025. He said he lost 20 years of film negatives in the wildfire — photos he had never shared before. His wife encouraged him to start posting again and share his work.

“I think it’s a good reminder that we only have the moment right now,” Ventimiglia said.

With “I Can Only Imagine 2” set to open this week, the actor says the project helped him move forward during one of the most challenging and meaningful years of his life.