Home Alone is a rare Christmas classic that we’re pretty certain will always hold up, despite the many decades that have already passed since its release.
While films like Love Actually are now being examined through a modern lens, there’s something comforting about a story of a little boy who is accidentally left behind by his parents for Christmas, who then triumphantly bamboozles two petty criminals who are terrible at their chosen careers.
Some members of the cast might have faded into obscurity – Kevin had a lot of cousins – but there are many originals who are still making waves in the industry today.
We’re checking in with them to find out what they’ve all been up to over the last three decades.
Macaulay Culkin
The adorable Macaulay Culkin was just 10 years old when the film was released, proving him to be highly talented for his age.
Audiences fell quickly for the adorable Kevin McCallister, and Macaulay was even nominated for the Golden Globe award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role.
After the Home Alone series, Macaulay stayed a strong child star and went on to feature in films like My Girl, The Good Son, The Pagemaster, and Richie Rich, after which he took a break from acting.
As many child stars often do, Macaulay struggled to find his feet in the wake of former fame. He also suffered tragic losses, with his half-sister, Jennifer Adamson dying in 2000 and his older sister, Dakota Culkin, dying in 2008.
However, he has slowly returned to acting, and recently starred in American Horror Story: Double Feature, the 10th season in the anthology series.
As for Macaulay’s personal life, he is currently in a relationship with Brenda Song, of The Suite Life of Zac and Cody fame. They have one son together, Dakota, who was born in April 2021. Read more about their love story here.
Catherine O’Hara
Kevin’s hard-done-by mother, Kate McCallister, was wonderful at engaging audiences with her sheer, unbridled, comedic panic at the realisation that she’d gone on holidays and left her son behind. Also, their reunion in the snow out front of their house must be one of the sweetest Christmas movie moments of all time!
Catherine O’Hara has hit the big time lately. Although already a beloved actress for her roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind, her recent role on Schitt’s Creek as the formidable Moira Rose awarded her a legion of new, young fans and a few Emmy awards, too.
When Macaulay was recently awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Catherine was there to show her support.
“I know you worked really hard, I know you did, but you made acting look like the most natural thing in the world to do,” she told him in her speech.
“Macaulay, congratulations. You so deserve your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And thank you for including me, your fake mom who left you home alone not once but twice, to share in this happy occasion. I’m so proud of you,” she concluded.
Kieran Culkin
Many fans of the Home Alone franchise don’t know that Kieran had a little cameo as Fuller, the youngest of Kevin’s cousins.
While Macaulay struggled to find his feet with fame, Kieran has had a steady and successful career, which took off particularly well for his role in Succession. Starring as Roman Roy, Kieran has been nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globes.
Joe Pesci
The ‘smart’ villain of the comedic pair that are determined to rob Kevin’s (almost) empty house, Joe Pesci had audiences in stitches in 1990 when he starred as Harry. The role was something new for him; Joe had been starring in action films for years, a lot of them alongside acclaimed actor Robert De Niro. The two worked together in Once Upon a Time in America, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas.
Nine years after the release of Home Alone, Pesci announced his retirement from acting in order to focus on his music career, but he did go on to appear in De Niro’s 2006 film, The Good Shepherd. Most recently, he released an album in 2019, entitled Pesci … Still Singing.
Daniel Stern
Daniel Stern’s Marv is a true scene stealer in Home Alone, but the loveable villain was again something different for Daniel, who had already had a massive career leading into the role.
While probably most recognisable as Marv, Daniel also appeared in City Slickers and its sequel, as well as Breaking Away, Diner, Blue Thunder, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Very Bad Things.
Daniel married his wife, Laure Mattos in 1980, and together they have three children, one of which is Henry Stern, a State Senator in California. Daniel also works as an artist nowadays, working mostly with bronze sculptures.
John Heard and Roberts Blossom
A special mention to these two, who played Kevin’s Dad, Peter McCallister, and his neighbour, Marley, respectively. They’ve both since passed away, with John Heard suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest in 2017, and Roberts succumbing to cerebrovascular disease in 2011, at the age of 87.
John Heard had quite the impressive career in film, and was also nominated for an Emmy in 1999 for his work guest starring as Vin Makazian in the HBO series, The Sopranos.
Roberts Blossom was also a celebrated actor, with his career beginning on stage in the 1950s. While he worked across film, TV, and theatre, he was also a celebrated poet, releasing his poetry in books across 2001 and 2002.
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