Child stardom in Hollywood has often come with hidden struggles, especially for young actors thrust into the spotlight before they’re ready. Behind the bright lights and box-office hits, many kids have had to navigate complicated family dynamics while balancing the pressures of fame. For some, the adults around them were supportive; for others, the story was far more turbulent.
In the late ’80s, a young Macaulay Culkin found himself at the center of it all, working alongside comedy legends and starring in films that would define a generation. But behind the scenes, not everything was as picture-perfect as it seemed. One of his most trusted co-stars, the late John Candy, picked up on something few others noticed at the time — a detail Culkin is now opening up about in a new documentary.
Macaulay Culkin Opens Up About John Candy’s Quiet Support
According to Entertainment Weekly, Macaulay Culkin is opening up about his experience filming the 1989 classic “Uncle Buck” and the unexpected bond he shared with the late John Candy. In Colin Hanks’ new documentary “John Candy: I Like Me,” which premiered Thursday as the opening film of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Culkin reflects on the kindness Candy showed him at a time when he was navigating early fame and personal challenges at home.
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Culkin recalls that Candy was unlike most adults he encountered on set. “A lot of actors don’t know how or don’t like to work with kids because they are tricky to work with,” he says in the documentary, before adding that “John was always really kind, and really good with” him and co-star Gaby Hoffman. Culkin explains that Candy treated him with an unusual level of respect for an eight-year-old, saying, “When you’re eight years old, you don’t really get respect, whether it’s in a workplace or just from adults and grown-ups in general. You felt invited in.”
The actor also shares that Candy seemed to sense there were deeper struggles happening in his personal life. Reflecting on his strained relationship with his father, Kit Culkin, he admits, “Even before the wave crested and the Home Alone stuff was happening, it was not hard to see how difficult my father was. It was no secret. He was already a monster.” Culkin says Candy appeared to notice the tension early on, often checking in on him quietly: “I think John was looking a little side-eyed, like, ‘Is everything alright over there? You doing good? Good day? Everything’s alright? Everything good at home? Alright.'”
For Culkin, Candy’s quiet support left a lasting impression. He describes Candy’s attitude as “a testament to the kind of man he was” and remembers how rare that compassion felt during his childhood. “He was just looking out for me,” Culkin says. “I wish I got more of that in my life. It’s important that I remember that. I remember John caring when not a lot of people did.”
