Macaulay Culkin explains why he stepped away from Hollywood after early fame

Macaulay Culkin has explained why he left acting after childhood stardom, saying he needed time away to find direction

Macaulay Culkin has spoken about the period in his life when he stepped away from Hollywood following early success as one of the most recognisable child actors of the 1990s.

Culkin rose to global fame at the age of nine after starring in Home Alone, a role that quickly made him one of the most prominent child actors in the film industry.

The success led to further roles, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, My Girl and Richie Rich, cementing his status throughout the decade.

However, the attention that followed his early fame proved difficult to navigate. Culkin grew up in the public eye, attracting intense media scrutiny as he entered adolescence.

His personal life became the subject of regular speculation, with press coverage focusing heavily on his behaviour and friendships during his teenage years.

Following the release of Richie Rich, Culkin chose to step back from acting. Speaking to Deadline, he explained that the decision came from a desire to distance himself from an industry he had entered at a very young age.

“I mean, here’s the thing: This is a line of work that found me. I didn’t find it,” he said. “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.”

Culkin said the time away allowed him to experience life outside of acting and consider his future. “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,” he said.

He later concluded that acting still had a place in his life, adding, “I came to the conclusion that this was something that found me, and maybe there’s a reason for that.”

Culkin eventually returned to the screen with roles including the film Party Monster, marking the beginning of a more selective and intermittent acting career.