Macaulay Culkin reveals John Candy realized his father was a ‘monster’ years before estrangement

Macaulay Culkin has revealed the late John Candy swiftly clocked onto the fact his father was a ‘monster’ – years before he became estranged from him.

Former child star Culkin, now 45, shot to fame with blockbusters Home Alone and Uncle Buck – the latter film in which he first crossed paths with Candy, who died from a heart attack aged 43 in 1994.

Culkin said Candy became a ‘paternal’ figure to him on set as his own father Kit – who he would later accuse of physical and emotional abuse – became an ‘infamous monster.’

In Colin Hanks’ new documentary, John Candy: I Like Me, which premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this week, Culkin reflects on Candy ‘looking out for him’ amid his fraught home life.

He said per People: ‘I think he always had that really great instinct. I think he saw. Listen, 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.

‘All of a sudden, the fame and the money came, and he became an infamous monster. He was already not a good guy.

‘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.”‘

Adding Candy’s care was a ‘testament to the kind of man he was’, he said Candy was ‘just looking out for him on set.’

‘It doesn’t happen that often. It actually happened less as time went on. 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.’

Culkin said of his time on 1989’s Uncle Buck: ‘I think that’s why that’s one of my favorite performances, because I think he put a lot of himself into it’, adding Candy was ‘always really kind and really good’ when working with child actors.

Candy first shot to fame via his work as a member of Toronto’s branch of improv comedy group The Second City in 1972.

He then joined the cast on Toronto-based comedy-variety show Second City Television which was picked up by NBC in 1981 and became a huge hit.

The show won Emmy Awards in 1981 and 1982 for its writing.

His breakout role came when he played Tom Hanks’ character’s womanizing brother in Splash, which garnered universal acclaim.

Candy appeared in a number of comedies throughout his career, including Spaceballs and Cool Runnings.

He had a minor, yet important, role as the ‘Polka King of the Midwest’ in Home Alone.