Macaulay Culkin, once the cherubic face of Home Alone, is peeling back the curtain on a much less heartwarming side of his childhood. For many fans, Culkin's story has been one of child stardom and sudden fame. But behind the on-screen smiles and blockbuster hits lay a family dynamic filled with tension, control, and estrangement.
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In a candid appearance on the Sibling Revelry podcast with Kate and Oliver Hudson, Culkin reflected on what it was like growing up under the eye of a father who, he says, never truly saw him. From the glittering lights of Hollywood to deeply personal family fractures, Culkin paints a picture that’s a far cry from the mischievous kid left behind at Christmas. Now a father himself, Culkin is looking back with clarity—and a few hard lessons that have shaped the way he raises his own children.
What Macaulay Culkin said about growing up with his dad
Appearing on Sibling Revelry, Culkin revealed he has not spoken to his father, Kit Culkin, in nearly 30 years. He shared:
One of my earliest memories of him was [thinking] when I grew up, this is how I'm not gonna be with my kids
Now a dad to sons Dakota, 3, and Carson, 2, with fiancée Brenda Song, Culkin admitted parenthood has brought up old wounds.
Reflecting on his childhood, he accused his father of being 'narcissistic' and 'crazy', reports TooFab. He added:
He had a certain amount of resentment towards me, I think is what it was. Because he wanted to be an actor, and he kind of did some stuff.
And I, right out of the bat, like, I instantly got the lead stuff in the ballet company. I instantly booked all these things like that.
I think he resented me for that. I think he kind of hated me a little bit for that, and so I think that's why he kind of was a little bit harsh with me.
He has also previously shared on WTF With Marc Maron in 2018:
Everything he tried to do in life, I excelled at before I was 10 years old.
Culkin also alleged enduring verbal and physical abuse. Still, he credits those experiences for shaping him:
I wouldn't be the father I am today if it wasn't for my experiences, you know.
Even during periods of alleged physical and verbal abuse, Culkin believed he would overcome his difficult circumstances and eventually rise above them.
His siblings, he said, are also estranged from their father. He noted:
He's a man who, he had seven kids, and now he has four grandkids. And none of them want anything to do with him.
Despite this, Culkin maintains close ties with his siblings. He praised Kieran Culkin's Oscar win, called Rory a prolific indie actor, and shared that their sister Quinn is a chef with a fabulous Instagram.
Who are Macaulay's parents? Everything we know about them
Macaulay Culkin was born to Christopher ‘Kit’ Culkin and Patricia Brentrup. The pair, who never married, began their relationship in 1974 and raised seven children in a cramped New York City apartment.
Kit, once an actor who appeared in Broadway productions and the film West Side Story, had a challenging upbringing himself, having lost his mother as a teen and spending nearly a year alone in an apartment with his siblings due to their father's health issues.
Before their children found fame, Kit worked as a taxi driver and sacristan, while Patricia was a telephone operator. The family struggled financially, with five children sharing two bunk beds in one room. It wasn’t until Macaulay's breakout role in Uncle Buck and Home Alone that things began to change.
Despite their split in 1995, Patricia remained a stabilising force in the children's lives. Kieran Culkin has openly expressed gratitude to their mother, calling her 'amazing' and highlighting her role in maintaining their family values. She later remarried and now lives in Montana with her husband Mart Cox.
Kit, on the other hand, became estranged from his children. In 2016, he told Daily Mail that he ‘didn't consider Macaulay a son anymore.’ According to Kieran, Kit was 'not a good dude' and wasn't much of a presence in their lives past their teenage years.
What happened between Macaulay and his parents?
The rift between Macaulay and his father began as the young actor’s fame soared. Kit, who managed Macaulay's career, gained a reputation for being controlling and difficult. Macaulay has accused him of being physically and mentally abusive, recalling:
[He said] 'Do good or I'll hit you.' He was a bad man. He was abusive, physically and mentally — I can show you all my scars if I wanted to.
The actor also alleged his father denied him basic comforts, including a bed, forcing him to sleep on a couch. He told ABC News:
I think it was just a way of him wanting to break my spirit. He wanted me to know to know that he was in charge and if he didn't want us to sleep on a bed, we weren't gonna sleep on a bed.
These claims were later denied by Kit’s late partner Jeanette Krylowski, who told New York Magazine that Patricia had manipulated the children against their father. She said:
My analysis is [that] she was the only one not getting famous and she felt left behind.
The kids do what Mom tells them to, because through the years, Mom had said, 'Your father doesn't love you, your father doesn't love you.'
Financial conflict added further strain. When Kit and Patricia separated in 1995, a custody battle erupted over their children and Macaulay’s reported $50 million fortune. Macaulay later removed both parents from his trust to protect his assets. He told Esquire:
We didn’t want to go with my father. It’s always misconstrued, that I “emancipated” myself from my parents. I legally took my parents’ names off of my trust fund and found an executor, someone who would look over my finances.
Despite the trauma, Macaulay has made peace with his past. In his semi-autobiographical book Junior, he wrote essays and letters to confront his father's memory. He said:
I think there's two different fathers that I have. I have my father, and I have the one in my head.
Writing the book helped him find closure:
The real one is gone and should be gone.
Read more:
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How Young & Restless' Eric Braeden became one of the richest soap actors in the US
Sources used:
TooFab: Macaulay Culkin Hasn't Spoken to His Father in 30 Years, Reveals What He Learned Prior to Estrangement
People: All About Macaulay and Kieran Culkin's Parents, Kit Culkin and Patricia Brentrup
Daily Mail: Inside the Culkin family drama: Child star Macaulay battled parents for $50million fortune and accused father of abuse before estrangement
