Published 15:15 05 Sep 2025 GMT
Macaulay Culkin is opening up about the late John Candy’s protective nature on the set of Uncle Buck, sharing that the comedy legend showed him genuine fatherly care during a pivotal time in his young life.
The actor reflects on his experience in John Candy: I Like Me, a new documentary from Colin Hanks that premiered Thursday as the opening film at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
The film features Candy’s longtime collaborators, including Steve Martin, who recalls how director John Hughes crafted the title role in Uncle Buck specifically for the comedian.
Martin praises his friend’s talent, noting that Candy brought humor, warmth, and humanity to every character he played.
Culkin, who starred as Candy’s nephew in the 1989 family hit, says he still looks back fondly on the experience.
“I think that’s why that’s one of my favorite performances, because I think he put a lot of himself into it,” he says in the documentary, via Entertainment Weekly.
Culkin remembers Candy as unusually patient and considerate with his young co-stars, including Gaby Hoffman.
“A lot of actors don’t know how or don’t like to work with kids,” he explains.
“But John was always really kind, and really good with us. He showed a lot of respect.
"When you’re eight years old, you don’t really get respect… You felt invited in.”
That kindness, Culkin says, left a lasting impression during a time when many adults in the industry didn’t take child actors seriously.
The Home Alone star also reveals that Candy’s watchful presence took on a deeper meaning given his strained relationship with his father, Kit Culkin.
“I felt paternal vibes from John,” Culkin admits, describing Candy’s subtle but consistent efforts to check in on his well-being.
“Even before the wave crested and the Home Alone stuff was happening, it was not hard to see how difficult my father was,” he recalls.
“John was looking a little side-eyed, like, ‘Is everything alright over there? Everything good at home?’”
Culkin calls Candy’s protective instinct “a testament to the kind of man he was,” adding: “I remember John caring when not a lot of people did.”
Both Macaulay and his brother, Succession star Kieran Culkin, have spoken publicly about their father’s controlling behavior during their early years in Hollywood.
Macaulay previously told Esquire that in 1995 he removed his parents’ names from his trust fund, appointing an independent executor to manage his finances during his custody battle.
Hanks’ documentary also features interviews with Candy’s family, friends, and collaborators, including Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, and Mel Brooks.
Together, they paint a portrait of a performer remembered as much for his warmth and generosity as his comedic brilliance.
For Culkin, Candy’s kindness on set remains one of the defining memories of his early career.
“I wish I got more of that in my life,” he says. “It’s important that I remember that.”
