Macaulay Culkin remembers: John Candy protected him on the set of “Alone with Uncle Buck” in front of his father.
In a new documentary about John Candy, Macaulay Culkin told how the actor, who died in 1994, took care of him, while in 1989 she stood in front of the camera for the comedy “Alone with Uncle Buck”. Candy realized early on that Culkin had a difficult father and showed compassion even before the fame was used by “Kevin alone at home”.
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Candy as a paternal presence
“He always had this great instinct. He saw what was going on,” recalls Culkin in “John Candy: I Like Me”, the documentary about Candy’s life, which celebrated her world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2025. “Even before the” Kevin alone at home “, it was not difficult to see how difficult my father was. It was no secret. He was already a monster back then. “
Culkin describes Candy’s attention in the documentary as “proof of what kind of person he was”: “It does not often happen that someone was paying attention to an eight -year -old actor. I wish I would have had more of it in my life. It is important that I think about it. I remember that John took care of nobody else.”
The then eight -year -old Culkin felt invited and accepted by Candy’s respect on the set: “If you are eight years old, you don’t really get respect, neither in the workplace nor from adults in general. John gave me the feeling that I am adding.”
Difficult family conditions
Culkin’s father Kit Culkin was considered a difficult personality, which later led to a permanent disgrace. At the age of 15, Macaulay Culkin applied for a legal guardian to block Kit Culkin and his mother Patricia Brentrup to block access to his $ 40 million family fund. The fund was administered by the family accountant up to the age of 18. In 2025, Culkin explained in the “Sibling Revelry Podcast” that he has had no contact with his father for more than 30 years: “He has seven children and four grandchildren, none of them want to have anything to do with him.”
Candy and Culkin on the set
In the documentary, Culkin emphasizes that Candy’s protection instinct went beyond the roles: “He was simply caring. On the set of” Uncle Buck “I felt real fatherly vibes.” The actor remembers that Candy treated him and his on screen sister Gaby Hoffmann particularly respectfully. Culkin praised Candy’s ability to work with children: “Many actors don’t know how to work or like it with children. John was always friendly and good for us.”
Documentation: “John Candy: I like me”
Colin Hanks’ film illuminates Candy’s life from numerous perspectives. In addition to Culkin, his family, friends and colleagues such as Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin and even director Mel Brooks have their say. Steve Martin, Candy’s co-star from Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Splash, also speaks about his collaboration with Candy and recognizes his talent and humanity.
The documentation celebrated its premiere on September 4, 2025 at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be available on Amazon Prime Video from October 10th. The festival itself runs until September 14th.
Review of Candy’s career
John Candy, born in Canada, was one of the greatest comedy stars in the 1980s and early 1990s. He became known for films such as “Planes”, “Trains and Automobiles”, “Spaceballs”, “Cool Running” and “alone with Uncle Buck”. Candy died of a heart attack in 1994 at the age of only 43 and remains a popular figure in film history.