Macaulay Culkin Starred Alongside His Real-Life Brother In 'Home Alone'

Jan 13, 2022 by apost team

Macaulay Culkin is known to people the world over as the adorable yet mischievous Kevin McAllister, the little boy from the "Home Alone" movies, which were a fixture of the 1990s. Even though Macaulay grew up and continued working as an actor — albeit in more niche and alternative roles — he's never really shaken his image as the "Home Alone" kid.

What you might not know about Macaulay is that he has a younger brother, Kieran Culkin, who also starred in “Home Alone.” According to Us Weekly, Kieran starred alongside his real-life brother as Kevin’s cousin Fuller. Although the role was minor, you might remember the scene in which McAllister’s mom tells the youngster to “Go easy on the Pepsi!”

Since the early days of their careers, the Culkins have both made a name for themselves in Hollywood and beyond.

In the decades since Macaulay first burst onto our screens, the details of his life have come to light. The picture of a happy child actor that we might have glimpsed on-screen was shattered when the world learned about his home life. Pushed to work by his father, it was only in his teen years when his parents were divorced that Macaulay was able to gain independence and live his life on his own terms.

Since then, he's led a much quieter life outside of the public eye. And we don't blame him. Thankfully, however, he has found his passion for acting once again. In the last two decades, he's appeared in various movies and shows and even reprised the role that made him most famous, albeit in a commercial instead of a full-length feature film. Meanwhile, Kieran has earned plaudits for his recent role on TV.

Macaulay Culkin was born on Aug. 26, 1980, to Christopher Cornelius "Kit" Culkin — a former Broadway actor — and Patricia Brentrup. Kieran Culkin was born two years later and would follow in his brother’s footsteps. The brothers, who have six siblings, came from a modest family. Kieran told Vanity Fair in 2018 that the family lived in a tiny railroad apartment "barely suitable for a couple."

Nonetheless, Patricia and Kit were eager to get their brood into show business. According to Kieran, the two would seek out every opportunity to get their kids into acting. "My parents' friends were running a little theater, the Light Opera of Manhattan, and whenever a production needed a kid, they were like, 'What age and what gender? We've got seven of them right over here,'" he explained. 

So it comes as no surprise that Macaulay's acting career began at the tender age of four. The "Home Alone" star started with small parts in off-Broadway productions before working himself up to more prestigious gigs, including the "Bach Babies" at the New York Philharmonic.

Macaulay's on-stage appearances quickly turned him into a sought-after child actor of the 1980s. By 1988, he had already landed his first role on the big screen as Cy Blue Black in the hit drama "Rocket Gibraltar." That following year, Macaulay would land roles in two more high-profile films, "See You in the Morning" and "Uncle Buck."

Then, just shy of 10 years old, the child prodigy made his big break as Kevin McCallister in the blockbuster comedy film "Home Alone." The movie quickly proved to be an immense success. Reining in at $476.7 million worldwide, "Home Alone" was listed by Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing live-action comedy of its time. 

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By 1993, the boy had become one of the highest-paid child actors in Hollywood, earning a whopping $4.5 million for his role in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." He had also landed high-profile jobs in multiple films, including "The Good Son," "The Nutcracker," and "Getting Even With Dad." 

But as Macaulay's fame grew, so did his dismay for his Hollywood lifestyle. However, he found his way out in 1994. After his parents had split, the young actor took his chance to quit acting and pursue a normal life as an adolescent. He attended a private school in Manhattan and turned down multiple acting jobs. “I was just hoping to disappear off the face of the earth,” Macaulay told Time in 2001.

It wasn’t until the early 2000s when Macaulay returned to acting, making his comeback in London's West End in the play “Madame Melville.” In 2003, the actor made a guest appearance on “Will & Grace” as Karen Walker's goofy divorce lawyer.

Since then, he’s only taken up scarce acting projects and has instead focused on picking up projects he feels passionate about. He started a rock band, The Pizza Underground, in 2013, and launched a parody lifestyle website called Bunny Ears in 2018. That same year, Macaulay delighted fans by returning to his “Home Alone” character Kevin in a Christmas ad for Google Assistant.

While Kieran didn’t become a child star like his brother, he’s also had a successful career in Hollywood, receiving nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and multiple Emmys and Golden Globes. And unlike his brother, he continues to act. In fact, his most well-received performance is for one of his most recent roles as Roman Roy on HBO’s award-winning series “Succession.”

Did you know that Kieran Culkin was in “Home Alone”? Did you know that he also has a successful career? Let us know — and be sure to pass this story on to others.