Ed Harris on Losing House in L.A. Wildfires: 'The Past Is Gone in a Certain Way' (Exclusive)

Ed Harris is finding strength and perspective after a life-changing loss.

The actor and his wife, actress Amy Madigan, both 74, lost their home in the wildfires that swept across Southern California earlier this year, and are still dealing with the aftermath. 

“We lost our house in the fires, so I’ve got some things along those lines, so I don’t have any plans to work immediately,” Harris tells PEOPLE while discussing his upcoming film My Dead Friend Zoe, in which he portrays a closed-off army veteran and grandfather named Dale. “We’re not the only ones, that's for sure. So we’re doing okay.”

Despite the devastation, Harris says that his family is taking this moment to live in the present. “It’s a great exercise in living day to day and staying in the moment, because the past is gone in a certain way,” he explains. “So you really try to just deal with every day, like a new day, moment to moment, do what you’ve got to do.”

One of the key lessons Harris has learned during this time is the value of leaning on others. “Love your friends and accept the love and concern of others and get on with it,” he says.

Harris, much like his character in My Dead Friend Zoe, admits that being present and leaning on others didn’t come easily to him until he met his wife.

“When we first met, she said, ‘Ed, you’ve got to talk to me and let me know what’s going on with you,’ " he recalls. ”And I was one of those guys that’s like, ‘What do you mean? I’m here and I love you. Why do I have to tell you what I’m feeling?’ "

He adds, “She kind of helped me realize that I have a certain responsibility as a human, being married to her, to open up and be present.”

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The Westworld star and Madigan use communication to strengthen both their personal relationship of nearly 42 years and their careers. “We both really enjoy what we do and it’s really fun to work together,” Harris tells PEOPLE about his wife, whom he has done “a number of plays” with and worked alongside in the film Pollock. 

“It’s because you know each other, you can talk about the work, collaborate, ask each other questions and penetrate the material together. You trust and love each other, and it's fun to be together doing what you love.”