Why Macaulay Culkin Walked Away from the Spotlight
After skyrocketing to fame as a child, Macaulay Culkin stepped back from acting for nearly a decade, searching for a sense of normal life and new direction.
Growing up in the glare of the entertainment industry is no easy feat, especially for someone as young as Macaulay Culkin. At just nine, he became a household name thanks to his starring role in the Christmas favourite Home Alone. Practically overnight, he was the most recognisable kid on the planet, and the attention that came with it was relentless.
Being thrust into fame so early left Culkin in a tricky spot. His performance in the holiday classic even caught the eye of Michael Jackson, leading to a friendship that had plenty of people talking. As he got older, the media never let up, with gossip mags following his every move and speculating about his personal life, from supposed drug use to oddball antics. All the while, he was just trying to figure out who he was after a childhood spent on film sets and red carpets, with journalists always sniffing around for a story—true or not.
From Child Star to Hollywood Burnout
Thanks to the runaway success of Home Alone, Culkin was back for the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He also landed roles in tearjerkers like My Girl and the family flick Richie Rich, cementing his status as the era’s top child actor. But it was Richie Rich that tipped him over the edge. At only 14, he felt he’d had enough of the limelight. Even though he knew he’d never be just another face in the crowd, given his association with one of the most beloved Christmas films ever, he was keen to give normal life a crack.
After Richie Rich flopped with critics, Culkin decided to step away from the industry. He disappeared from the public eye for nearly ten years, dodging the cameras and the constant scrutiny. Reflecting on that period, he said,
‘I mean, here’s the thing: This is a line of work that found me. I didn’t find it. It’s like that. So yeah, I had to go on that journey. I had to go away a while, after, I think, Richie Rich. I don’t think I did anything on screen for about seven or eight years, boom.’
Chasing Normalcy and New Paths
During his time away, Culkin focused on everyday things—finishing high school, mucking about, and just living life outside the bubble. He explained,
‘Just with high school and messed around and stuff like that. I needed to float around a little bit outside, just figure out what I wanted to do.’
It was a chance to explore who he was without the pressure of being in the public eye.
Eventually, he realised that acting wasn’t something he could completely walk away from. As he put it,
‘I came to the conclusion that this was something that found me, and maybe there’s a reason for that.’
So, he dipped his toe back in, but not in the way anyone expected. He took on a role in the offbeat black comedy Party Monster, donning wild costumes and feathered lashes. The film was a far cry from his earlier work and left plenty of punters surprised. Since then, his appearances have been few and far between, but he’s never fully left the industry behind.