A couple of weeks ago I did a blog title “Whatever Happy To…”. That week I focused on my love for Rick Moranis, in the spotlight this week, Macaulay Culkin. Growing up, three of the biggest movies for me was probably Home Alone 1, 2 and definitely, Uncle Buck. Playing the lead wasn’t unfamiliar to an innocent young Culkin. Back then, only being three years younger than him I always thought, this kid is going to be huge when he’s older. So let’s see whatever happen to him.
Why I Miss Him
In the mid-1980’s, Macaulay Culkin had a few roles to get him experience in front of the camera. Roles you probably dont remember him from was probably, Cy Blue Black in Rocket Gibraltar and Billy Livingstone in See You in the Morning. In 1989 he landed a bigger role as Miles Russell in Uncle Buck. John Candy was at the height of his popularity and with a young Macaulay Culkin on the rise, the mixture of both actors played out some of the funniest parts in the movie. The back and forth routine when Culkin was grilling Candy of his priorities in life is still classic. Giving the starting actor somewhat of an edge and smart ass feel for someone so young. In 1990, another John Hughes movie was released and with such an impressive response in Uncle Buck. Hughes had to hire Culkin as the lead in Home Alone. For a moderate budget, Home Alone went onto make half a billion dollars world wide. Making Macaulay Culkin the biggest actor that year. Later Culkin added roles in Only the Lonely, My Girl, The Good Son, Getting Even With Dad, and The Pagemaster. With a few sub-par roles in the early 90’s, he went back to what made him famous and reprised his role as Kevin McCallister in 1992’s Home Alone 2. His last big role in Hollywood was 1994’s Richie Rich. Culkin had a few small TV appearances as well in Frasier and Will & Grace. While I didn’t enjoy the later of his roles, I’ll always remember him as the quick one liner, smart kid from Uncle Buck and Home Alone.
So Where Is He ?
While essentially laying low for the majority of the late 90’s and 2000’s, he came back to play a reprising role in the successful TV series Kings. Also from 2005 to 2010, he would do numerous voice over work for Seth Greens Robot Chicken. He’s basically kept out of the limelight altogether. He’s said acting at such a young age has left him burned out, which has left him to do some small roles in England and taking on some smaller ones in New York.
Is This It For Maccaulay ?
Some actors go through drug or alcohol problems, some change professions, and some just burn out and retire. Even though he’s ran into some drug problems, a break up with his father and living essentially as a recluse, those certainly weren’t the demise of his career. Culkin stats that he had all the fame one kid could want, and just didn’t want it anymore. He made his money, he met a ton of famous people and has now decided to just be semi retired. He said he’s always stopped in New York City where he still lives and asked, “where have you been?!”, always stating that, he’s just enjoying life. I appear in one project a year and do whatever else I want the rest of the time. Maybe he’ll make a triumphant return to Hollywood, one day appearing in a Judd Apatow movie, or maybe alongside Jonah Hill, Jason Segel or many of the other young comedians today. I hope one day he’ll find his way back to the bigger roles that made him great.
I love the quote he said in 2007 saying, “Acting found me. I thought maybe I should try to find it again. We’ll see.”
Down The Rabbit Hole 