Macauley Culkin praises John Candy for looking out for him as a child actor

Posted On September 5, 2025September 5, 2025

Macauley Culkin has praised the late John Candy for looking out for him as a child actor.

Culkin and Candy worked together on the 1989 movie, Uncle Buck. At this time, Culkin was only nine, but thankfully, he had Candy fighting his corner, ensuring that he was OK, as well as questioning the behaviour of the young star’s father, Kit.

Candy sadly died in 1994, aged 43, due to a heart attack. His life is the subject of the new Colin Hanks documentary, John Candy: I Like Me, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 4th.

In the movie, Culkin fondly reminisced about the time they spent together while shooting Uncle Buck. He said (per People), “I think he always had that really great instinct.”

Culkin elaborated, “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.”

The Home Alone actor then explained more about his complex relationship with his father, which Candy noticed, sharing, “All of a sudden, the fame and the money came, and he became an infamous monster. 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.’”

Culkin said this behaviour exhibited by Candy was “a testament to the kind of man he was”, praising his “paternal” instincts.

While many people on film sets may have felt similarly about Culkin’s father, few let their feelings be known to his son, who admitted in the film, “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.”

Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, John Candy: I Like Me is set to arrive on Prime Video on October 10th.

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