Macaulay Culkin reveals, John Candy saw early signs of father's abuse

Macaulay Culkin is reflecting on his early acting years and the late comedian John Candy’s impact on his life, revealing that Candy was one of the first to notice troubling behavior from Culkin’s father, Kit Culkin.

The former child star shared his memories in John Candy: I Like Me, a new documentary directed by Colin Hanks, which premiered on September 4 as the opening film at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The documentary will stream on Prime Video starting October 10.

Culkin, now 45, starred alongside Candy in the 1989 comedy Uncle Buck, directed by John Hughes. In the documentary, he describes Candy as having a “paternal” presence on set — something he rarely experienced growing up. “I think he always had that really great instinct,” Culkin said, recalling how Candy would subtly check in on him during filming. “He was just looking out for me,” Culkin noted. “He’d ask, ‘Everything good at home? You doing alright?’”

At the time, Culkin’s strained relationship with his father was already becoming apparent, even before his rise to international fame with Home Alone. “Even before the wave crested, it wasn’t hard to see how difficult my father was,” he revealed. “He was already a monster.” Culkin suggested that Candy seemed to sense something was wrong and quietly offered emotional support.

Culkin expressed gratitude for Candy’s kindness, saying, “I wish I got more of that in my life. It’s important that I remember that.” He also praised Candy’s performance in Uncle Buck, calling it one of his favorites because the late actor brought authenticity and warmth to the role.

Both Macaulay and his brother, actor Kieran Culkin, have previously spoken publicly about the emotional toll of their childhood, citing their father’s controlling and abusive behavior.

John Candy: I Like Me aims to celebrate the life and legacy of Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994 at age 43.