Macaulay Culkin says John Candy was one of the first to notice his father was ‘a monster’

Macaulay Culkin says the late John Candy was one of the first people to notice that something was wrong in his home life when he was a child actor. Culkin, 45, shares his memories of Candy in “John Candy: I Like Me,” a documentary directed by Colin Hanks that had its world premiere on Sept. 4 as the opening film of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, according to People.

In the film, Culkin describes his father, Kit Culkin, who managed his career during his rise to fame, as a “monster,” and says Candy’s quiet concern stood out at a time when few adults around him seemed to notice.

Culkin on his father

Culkin has been estranged from his father for decades and has spoken before about the difficult relationship. In the documentary, he says the problems began before his fame. Even before “Home Alone,” he says, “it was not hard to see how difficult my father was.”

“It was no secret. He was already a monster,” Culkin says. “All of a sudden, the fame and the money came, and he became an infamous monster.” He adds: “He was already not a good guy.”

Kit Culkin was a stage actor before managing his children’s careers. Macaulay Culkin and his brother, actor Kieran Culkin, have both spoken in past interviews about the pressure their father placed on the family during their early careers.

How Candy showed he cared

Culkin worked with Candy on the 1989 comedy “Uncle Buck,” in which Candy played the easygoing uncle who looks after Culkin’s character and his sisters. Culkin says Candy seemed to sense that something was wrong.

“I think he always had that really great instinct,” Culkin says. “I think he saw.” He describes Candy checking in on him: “I think John was looking a little side-eyed, like, ‘Is everything alright over there?'”

Culkin says Candy “was just looking out for” him on set and calls that attitude “a testament to the kind of man he was.” He adds: “I remember John caring when not a lot of people did.”

Reflecting on how rare that kind of attention was, Culkin says: “It doesn’t happen that often. It actually happened less as time went on.” He adds: “I wish I got more of that in my life.”

Working with Candy

Culkin also praises Candy as a scene partner. He says Candy “was always really kind, and really good with” him and his on-screen sister, Gaby Hoffmann, and that Candy treated the young actors with respect at a time when many adults did not. He calls Candy’s work in “Uncle Buck” one of his favorite performances: “I think that’s why that’s one of my favorite performances, because I think he put a lot of himself into it.”

The two appeared together again in 1990’s “Home Alone,” in which Candy had a small role as Gus Polinski, the polka band leader who gives Kevin’s mother a ride home to Chicago.

About the documentary

“John Candy: I Like Me” is set to stream on Prime Video starting Oct. 10, 2025. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced with Ryan Reynolds, the film traces Candy’s life from his start with Toronto’s Second City comedy troupe and the sketch show “SCTV” to his career as a Hollywood star in films such as “Splash,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “Uncle Buck.” It features interviews with friends and collaborators including Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy and Bill Murray.

The title comes from a speech by Candy’s character, Del Griffith, in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” The film also addresses Candy’s personal struggles, including anxiety and the pressure he faced over his weight. Candy’s father died of heart disease when John was 5 years old.

Candy’s legacy

Candy died of a heart attack in March 1994 at age 43 while filming in Mexico. In 1995, during his parents’ custody dispute, Culkin took legal steps to remove them from control of his finances. His comments add a personal account to the many tributes from colleagues who remember Candy for his warmth off screen as well as on it.