There have been a lot of reports saying that it was the movie “Home Alone” which propelled then child actor Macaulay Culkin to superstardom but it turns out that his biggest role as Kevin McCallister in the 1990 hit Christmas family movie was actually written specifically for him.
It was John Hughes, the producer and writer for “Home Alone,” who confirmed not too long ago that he drew inspiration for the film from a previous family comedy he directed where Macaulay Culkin starred in. That movie was “Uncle Buck,” details Alphalife.
Hughes had a hunch about Culkin’s contagious charisma in the film and knew he would be perfect for the leading role as Kevin McCallister in “Home Alone.”
Although Hughes auditioned over 200 other children, he knew that it was Macauley Culkin all along who was meant for the part.
The producer’s instinct about Culkin obviously turned out to be true, as the movie became the highest grossing film of 1990 and earned a Guinness World Record as the highest grossing live-action comedy ever domestically.
Subsequently, Macaulay Culkin became a child star icon, and won the American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor and was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.
First child actor to earn a million bucks
Macaulay Culkin was also the first ever child actor in the history of Hollywood to receive one million dollars for a single movie, and that was in the movie “My Girl.”
In fact, it is because of such huge pay that he was actually referred to as a million dollar kid.
His fame skyrocketed after the success of “Home Alone,” and it was the 1991 tragicomedy “My Girl” in which he scored the million dollar deal. The movie campaign even used the slogan “Mac is Back” as a selling point.
When he retired from acting at the young age of 14, his net worth was already over $11 million, which was more than enough for him to live a comfortable lifestyle for the rest of his life.
Wanted to get even with his parents
While he was still an in-demand actor at that time, a huge part of Macaulay’s decision to quit acting was to spite his father Kit who, despite using his money to buy pretty much everything, was never entirely satisfied.
In an interview, Macaulay said that his father was overbearing and very controlling too. He said that his father was always the way he is even before his success. He adds that his old man plays mind games to make sure that all his children know their place.
His parents finally divorced, both filing for custody, and both wanting control over his $11 million dollar fortune.
Realizing the root of the custody battle, the young child managed to stop his parents from getting their hands on his hard earned cash, a move that led to his father no longer wanting to communicate with him.
In his private life, Macaulay dropped out of school before finishing his senior year to marry his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Miller.
They married when they were both just 17 in 1998 but, as unfortunately happens in most young marriages, separated in 2000, with their divorce finalized in 2002, details Moviepilot.
From there he entered what would become a long-term relationship with actress Mila Kunis, a Hollywood pairing people tend to forget.
After the end of his relationship with Mila, Macaulay began a dangerous descent into a debilitating drug addiction, leaving him looking gaunt and completely strung out.
But he has picked up the pieces of his shattered life since then. In 2013, a video was uploaded to YouTube showing a healthier looking Macaulay munching a slice of pizza, which was not only a nod to Andy Warhol but also the introduction to Culkin’s next project, his band The Pizza Underground.