Macaulay Culkin opens up about difficult relationship with father, Kit Culkin

Actor Macaulay Culkin shared a photo on his Instagram account on June 5, 2024, where he discussed his sensitive feelings toward Father’s Day.

He also posted an image of a "care package" alongside his message, containing a teddy bear reminiscent of Darth Vader and various other items related to Star Wars. 

In his message, he reflected on his past experiences but expressed his decision to embrace Father's Day, now that he is a father of two.

Macaulay Culkin, known for his role in Home Alone, has consistently been forthcoming about the complexities of his relationship with his father. When Macaulay started gaining fame as a child actor, his father, Kit Culkin, left his job to manage his career.

The caption stated: “If you know a little about me then you’d know I’ve had a complicated relationship with Father’s Day in the past.”

“In our house Father’s Day isn’t held in as a high regard as birthdays or Christmas but it does mop the floor of such holidays as St. Patrick’s day, Valentines Day, and the 4th of July.”

“Father’s Day isn’t for me, it’s for the people that make me feel like a father.”

After the commercial triumph of the 1990 movie Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin gained widespread recognition. However, he has typically endeavored to maintain his personal life away from public scrutiny.

However, he seemed to be quite open about his relationship with his father. There have been suggestions that Kit Culkin completely severed ties with his children permanently, following statements Macaulay has made publicly before. Macaulay spoke candidly with New York Magazine in 2001.

“My father was always, you know, abusive, but it didn't get really, really, really bad until later on.”

Who is Macaulay Culkin’s father, Kit Culkin?

Kit Culkin, born on December 6, 1944, was an American stage actor. His father, Phillip Harley Culkin, initially met Kit's mother, Marian Ethel, who was a writer, while working in public relations. They had four children: Kit, Candy, Terry, and Bonnie Bedelia.

Kit and his siblings were employed as stagehands in New York City, starting from the age of 10.

In the early stages of his career, Kit appeared in Broadway theater productions, where their mother served as the manager. Bonnie and Kit portrayed young children in one season of George Balanchine's Nutcracker.

At the age of 15, Culkin acted alongside several renowned theatrical performers in shows. He also participated in numerous Broadway productions for a decade and was involved in the production of Becket on Broadway.

Culkin is the father of eight children. His eldest child, Jennifer Adamson, was born during his relationship with Adeena Vanwagoner.

Subsequently, he had Shane, Dakota, Macaulay, Kieran, Quinn, Christian, and Rory with Patricia Brentrup. Despite never formalizing their union in marriage, Culkin and Brentrup were together for 21 years, from 1974 to 1995. However, they parted ways in 1995.

In 1995, Brentrup initiated custody proceedings for their six underage children in the New York State Supreme Court. The New York Times indicated that Kit chose not to participate in the trial almost two years later and decided against contesting custody.

Later, Culkin resided in Grants Pass, Oregon. On May 31, 2017, after the death of his longtime companion and friend Jeanette Krylowski, Culkin relocated from his Grants Pass residence.