NEED TO KNOW
Home Alone didn’t just catapult Macaulay Culkin to overnight child stardom when it premiered on Nov. 16, 1990; it also created a generation of fans — or, better yet, “filthy animals.”
Written by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, the film has become an endlessly quotable and nostalgic Christmas classic that families around the world consider a yearly watch. It also earned Macaulay a Golden Globe nomination in 1991 for best actor.
When we first met 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay) in the iconic movie, he was mistakenly left behind by his parents — played by John Heard and Catherine O’Hara — for their family vacation in Paris. In their absence, he must defend his Chicago home from a pair of thieves by setting various traps around the house.
Home Alone spawned a six-film franchise, with the first three movies — the only ones released theatrically — earning over $866 million, combined, at the worldwide box office, per The Numbers. Since the original installment’s release, the actors have reunited to celebrate milestone anniversaries. Macaulay has also reprised his role in different campaigns, including the “Home but Not Alone” holiday ad in November 2025 to honor the movie’s 35th anniversary.
Keep reading to learn what Macaulay and the rest of the cast have been up to over the years since making this cinematic treasure.
Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister
20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock; Frazer Harrison/Getty
The then-10-year-old child star Macaulay took on the leading role of Kevin, the youngest of the five McCallister children. Kevin’s dream of being home alone quickly turns into a hilarious nightmare and battle of wits when a pair of bumbling thieves attempts to break into his house.
After his heart-wrenching turn in the 1991 film My Girl, Macaulay went on to star in the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He also led the casts of Richie Rich (1994), The Pagemaster (1994), Party Monster (2003) and Saved! (2004).
In 2021, he appeared on season 10 of American Horror Story and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2023. The actor is set to star in the 2025 Disney film Zootopia 2 and season 2 of the Prime Video series Fallout.
Macaulay married actress Rachel Miner in 1998; however, the pair split in 2000 and divorced in 2002. He then stepped back from the spotlight and began a low-profile relationship with actress Mila Kunis, whom he dated from 2002 to 2011.
He found love again in 2017 with fellow child star Brenda Song of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The couple welcomed their first child, son Dakota, in April 2021, and got engaged the following January. In March 2023, Macaulay’s brother and former Home Alone costar, Kieran Culkin, confirmed the pair had welcomed their second child, son Carson, in December 2022.
Joe Pesci as Harry
20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock; George Pimentel/FilmMagic
Joe Pesci is no stranger to playing a criminal, although his turn as Harry — a con man and one-half of the “Wet Bandits” duo — in Home Alone was more lighthearted than his usual fare.
He also reprised the role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
“It was a nice change of pace to do that particular type of slapstick comedy,” Pesci told PEOPLE in November 2022 in honor of the sequel’s 30th anniversary, adding, “But the Home Alone movies were a more physical type of comedy, therefore, a little more demanding.”
The actor has been a longtime staple in Martin Scorsese’s films, appearing alongside Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995) and The Irishman (2019), as well as on the Peacock series Bupkis opposite Pete Davidson and Edie Falco. He also starred in Once Upon a Time in America (1984), JFK (1991), My Cousin Vinny (1992) and multiple films in the Lethal Weapon franchise.
In 1991, Pesci won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of real-life gangster Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas. He also earned nods in the category for his work in Raging Bull and The Irishman.
Apart from acting, Pesci has dabbled in music, having released three studio albums.
Pesci is a father of one, welcoming daughter Tiffany in 1992 alongside ex-wife Claudia Haro.
Daniel Stern as Marv
20th Century Fox Film/Alamy; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Daniel Stern’s character as the other half of the “Wet Bandits” may not have succeeded in his plot to steal from the McCallisters, but the actor himself has managed to secure a spot in Hollywood in the decades since the film premiered.
“I love the movie. It’s tremendous. I know the script inside and out,” Stern told PEOPLE in December 2024 of Home Alone, despite not having watched it in full since its release in 1990.
After reprising the role of Marv in the 1992 sequel, Stern continued his voice work as narrator on The Wonder Years during its six-season run from 1988 to 1993. He made his directorial debut with 1993’s Rookie of the Year and lent his voice to the animated series Dilbert.
Stern has worked steadily on both the big and small screens, appearing on Aidy Bryant’s Hulu series Shrill and on Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed sci-fi drama For All Mankind.
Stern released his memoir, Home and Alone, in May 2024, telling PEOPLE at the time that being part of the film’s legacy “really changed my world in my life.”
“When I was a kid, every year Wizard of Oz came on at the holiday times, and we’d gather around and we’d watch the Wizard of Oz,” Stern added. “Now, Home Alone comes on at the holiday time, and it’s a ritual of families. That’s crazy that I get to be a little bit of a piece of their life. It’s quite an honor.”
He and actress Laure Mattos have been married since 1980. Together, they share three children, one of whom is California state senator Henry Stern.
Catherine O’Hara as Kate McCallister
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Before Home Alone, O’Hara was already a familiar face in Hollywood thanks to several supporting roles throughout the 1980s — most notably in Tim Burton’s 1988 classic Beetlejuice.
She has maintained her close friendship with Macaulay throughout the years, serving as a guest speaker when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.
“Home Alone was, is and always will be a beloved global sensation … the reason families all over the world can’t let a year go by without watching and loving Home Alone together is because of Macaulay Culkin,” O’Hara said of her former costar.
After portraying the McCallister family matriarch in the original film and its sequel, O’Hara most notably starred in Christopher Guest’s films Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003) and For Your Consideration (2006) while also reuniting with Burton on Frankenweenie (2012) and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024).
From 2015 to 2020, she delighted audiences with her hilarious turn as washed-up soap opera star Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, earning an Emmy in 2020 for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her performance on the show’s final season.
O’Hara has also voiced countless movie characters, lending her talent to The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Chicken Little (2005), Elemental (2023) and The Wild Robot (2024). Since 2025, she has also had recurring roles on the series The Last of Us and The Studio — both of which led to Emmy nominations for outstanding guest actress in a drama series and outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, respectively.
O’Hara and production designer Bo Welch wed in 1992. The couple shares two sons: Matthew and Luke.
John Heard as Peter McCallister
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Throughout his lengthy Hollywood career, Heard was a well-respected actor. He appeared in many renowned films like Cutter’s Way (1981), Beaches (1988) and Big (1988) before playing Kevin’s loving (but forgetful) father, Peter.
Following Home Alone, Heard was cast in Awakenings (1990), Gladiator (1992), The Pelican Brief (1993), White Chicks (2004) and more. He was also a series regular on shows such as The Client, Prison Break and The Sopranos, for which he received an Emmy nomination in 1999 for his guest role as Detective Vin Makazian.
Heard died at the age of 71 in July 2017. He is survived by two children, John Matthew — whom he shared with actress Melissa Leo — and daughter Annika from his previous marriage to Sharon Heard. (Their son, Max, died at 22 in December 2016.)
The late actor’s posthumous releases include The Last Rampage (2017), The Tale (2018), Living Among Us (2018) and Imprisoned (2018).
Devin Ratray as Buzz McCallister
20th Century Fox Film; Cindy Ord/Getty
Devin Ratray is best known for playing Kevin’s cruel older brother, Buzz, but he’s had a steady career in supporting roles since appearing in Home Alone and its sequel.
He has appeared on shows like Heartland, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Blue Bloods, Chicago Med, Russian Doll and Better Call Saul.
In addition to films such as Dennis the Menace (1993), Nebraska (2013), Masterminds (2016) and Kimi (2022), he also rounded out the star-studded cast of the Jennifer Lopez-led crime dramedy Hustlers in 2019.
Off-screen, the actor has faced some legal challenges. In August 2022, CNN reported that Ratray was being investigated following an allegation of raping a woman in 2017; however, he denied the allegations and was never charged.
Later, in February 2024, he pleaded guilty to two domestic violence charges related to his December 2021 arrest for an altercation involving his then-girlfriend. He was ordered to take behavior intervention plan classes and undergo a drug and alcohol assessment.
Kieran Culkin as Fuller McCallister
20th Century Fox Film; Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Kieran, Macaulay’s real-life sibling, made his feature film debut in Home Alone and returned for its sequel.
In the following years, he appeared in Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), She’s All That (1999) and The Cider House Rules (1999).
After his lauded leading role as the titular character in 2002’s Igby Goes Down, Kieran followed in his brother’s footsteps and took a break from acting, returning with roles in 2010’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and on the second season of the anthology series Fargo.
From 2018 to 2023, Kieran portrayed Roman Roy on HBO’s hit show Succession, winning both an Emmy and Golden Globe for the show’s fourth and final season.
He dominated the 2025 awards season for his performance in the dramedy A Real Pain, earning an Oscar, BAFTA, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award.
Kieran and wife Jazz Charton, whom he married in June 2013, are parents to three children.
John Candy as Gus Polinski
20th Century Fox
Before the “Polka King of the Midwest” came to the frantic McCallister family’s rescue at the airport, John Candy was famous for his long roster of Hollywood comedies.
The Canadian actor was best known for roles in Stripes (1981), Splash (1984), Space Balls (1987), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) and Cool Runnings (1993).
Candy starred in Uncle Buck (1989) alongside Macaulay and had supporting roles in The Blues Brothers (1980), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986) and Rookie of the Year (1993), which was directed by Stern.
“We had this small stage in the van, and John just kept coming up with ideas,” O’Hara recalled of filming her scenes with Candy in the 2025 documentary John Candy: I Like Me. “If you watch the movie, there’s very little of my improving, but John was so fun.”
Macaulay — who described Candy as a “paternal” presence — added, “I think he always had that really great instinct.”
He died of a heart attack in 1994 at the age of 43.
Gerry Bamman as Uncle Frank McCallister
20th Century Fox Film; Bobby Bank/Getty
Though he is best known for playing Kevin’s ever-grumpy Uncle Frank in Home Alone and its sequel, Gerry Bamman made a name for himself playing small parts in notable films throughout the years.
Before his iconic role, he was featured in The Secret of My Success (1987) and Cocktail (1988). He then went on to appear in The Bodyguard (1992), Lorenzo’s Oil (1992), Great Expectations (1998) Superstar (1999) and Runaway Jury (2003).
Bamman has also had minor roles on TV shows such as L.A. Law, Law & Order, Sex and the City, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Rescue Me, The Good Wife and The Following.
He was previously married to Emily Mann, with whom he shares a son, Nicholas.
Roberts Blossom as “Old Man” Marley
20th Century Fox Film; Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty
Roberts Blossom’s character Marley taught us that not every strange next-door neighbor is secretly a serial killer — sometimes they’re just a sweet, lonely, eccentric old man.
Blossom had small but memorable roles in Slaughterhouse-Five (1972), The Great Gatsby (1974), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Escape From Alcatraz (1979), Christine (1983) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). He also starred in the 1974 cult horror film Deranged.
In addition to various one-off roles on TV, he was also a poet.
Blossom is survived by his two children, son Michael and daughter Deborah, whom he welcomed from his two marriages.
According to The New York Times, Blossom died at the age of 87 in July 2011.
