Macaulay Culkin is reflecting on what it was like to work with his well-known on-screen uncle, John Candy.
Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994 at the age of 43, starred alongside Culkin in the 1989 John Hughes comedy Uncle Buck. Now 45, Culkin shares memories of the late actor in Colin Hanks’ new documentary John Candy: I Like Me. The film had its world premiere on Thursday, Sept. 4, as the opening movie of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
“I think he always had that really great instinct,” Culkin recalls in the documentary.
The Home Alone star also explained that Candy seemed aware of the challenges he was facing at home. “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.”
“All of a sudden, the fame and the money came, and he became an infamous monster,” Culkin continued. “He was already not a good guy. I think John was looking a little side-eyed, like, ‘Is everything alright over there? You doing good? Everything good at home?'”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/Macaulay-Culkin-and-John-Candy-uncle-buck-681-090325-02c7648efb23483ab66ee04703e486b5.jpg)
Culkin said Candy’s caring nature showed what kind of person he truly was. “He was just looking out for me on set,” Culkin explained, adding that Candy had a “paternal” presence.
“It doesn’t happen that often. It actually happened less as time went on,” Culkin said. “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.”
Both Culkin and his brother, Kieran Culkin, have previously spoken about their strained relationship with their father, Kit Culkin.
Looking back on Uncle Buck, Culkin said the film remains one of his favorites because Candy put so much of himself into the role. He noted that while some actors don’t enjoy working with kids, Candy was always patient and kind with him and co-star Gaby Hoffman.
John Candy: I Like Me will be available on Prime Video starting Oct. 10.
