Macaulay Culkin is arguably one of the most successful and adored child actors during the 1990s. Culkin was also listed in VH1’s list of the “100 Greatest Kid-Stars.” He rose to fame, playing the charismatic role of Kevin McCallister in the mega-hit Home Alone series. The then-emerging talent was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in the movies.
However, despite having such a booming beginning, Culkin took a hiatus from acting in 1994. He has since made a counted appearance in movies and TV shows. Besides, the former child star who belongs to the family of actors also went through some miserable family tragedies in the past including his sisters’ early demise. Let’s also know about Macaulay’s relationship with his parents, especially with his reported abusive father.
Moreover, we will also talk about Culkin’s love life and find out if the actor is married to anyone or not.
Who are Macaulay Culkin’s Parents? Was Named After Thomas Babington Macaulay
Macaulay Carson Culkin is the son of Kit Culkin, a stage actor, and Patricia Brentrup, an ex-telephone operator. He was born on 26th August 1980, in New York City. His first name Macaulay was inspired by Thomas Babington Macaulay, the late British historian, and politician, whereas, Carson was named after Kit Carson, the late frontiersman from the United States.
His Childhood and School
Growing up in NYC, Macaulay was raised Roman Catholic. He also studied at a Catholic school, St. Joseph’s School of Yorkville. He then went to Professional Children’s School. It was where the then-child star met his future wife Rahel Miner.
Macaulay, a child actor.Source: Facebook
Besides, talking about his ethnicity, Cullin is Caucasian while his nationality is American.
He Belongs to the Working-Class Family
Although the Culkin siblings gained tremendous popularity within a short span of time, their early family life wasn’t too comfortable as the family had to struggle financially. The big family used to live in a railroad apartment in NYC. The flat didn’t have a separate room, except for the bathroom, which was also without of lock. They spent nearly a decade there.
During the time, Culkin’s father used to work as a sacristan at a local Catholic church while his mother was a telephone operator at the local station.
Besides, in several of the interviews, Macauly openly talked about his father’s fatherly role in his and other siblings. He said that his dad Kit, the brother of actress Bonnie Bedelia spent most of his time outside the house. The ex-child star further revealed whenever his dad came back home, they never felt happy.
But, their mother Patricia was the one who held them all up.
Macaulay Culkin’s Relationship With His Parents: Their Court Battle
Since Macaulay started pocketing a huge chunk of the amount, the relationship between the child actor and his parents couldn’t be as good as it was initially. At one point, Culkin even had to take both of his parents to court to get his hands on his earned money. He recalled the situation to Esquire,
“I legally took my parents’ names off of my trust fund and found an executor, someone who would look over my finances, just in case anyone wanted to stick their f—ing pinkie in the pie. But the next thing you know, the story was that I divorced my parents. I just thought I was doing it cleanly — taking my father’s name off, taking my mum’s name off.”
Culkin added,
“Look, I mean, it sucks. But it could have been worse.”
Moreover, in another interview with Her. ie, Home Alone star further talked about his father’s abusive behavior at the height of his career. The situation even led him to stop his burgeoning acting career. He talked about his father’s treatment,
“Do good or I’ll hit you. He was a bad man. He was abusive. Physically and mentally. I can show you all my scars if I wanted to.”
He further explained,
“I even wanted to take a break for a while and eventually I was like ‘I’m done guys, hope you all made your money because there is no more coming from me.”
His parents eventually lost the status of his legal guardian when Macaulay famously won a case against them at the age of 15. He also won back his $17 million fortune.
Ever since the case ended, Macaulay has had no contact with his dad but often visits his mom who now lives in Billings, Montana with her new husband.
Had Macaulay’s Parents Ever Been Married?
His parents Kit and Patrica dated for over two decades. But, despite their long-time relationship, the two never married.
Sources believe that the now-former couple first met in North Dakota in the mid-1970s. After they spent the first few years of their love life in North Dakota, the two went to New York, and subsequently, they also started a family there.
They were the parents of their eight children. However, their relationship that was full of ups and downs hit a rough patch in the mid-1990s.
Later on, Macaulay’s father began dating Jeanette Krylowski. They were in a relationship until Kraylowski’s demise in May 2017. Kit and his late partner used to live in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon.
How Many Siblings Does Macaulay Culkin Have?
Macaulay had six siblings including a late sister Dakota, who died in 2008. His other siblings are four brothers named Kieran, Culkin, Shane Culkin, Rory Culkin, and Christian Culkin as well as a sister Quinn Culkin.
Macaulay had seven siblings.Source: Facebook
Like him, most of his siblings are also pretty into acting from an early age. His younger brother Kieran is also better known for his role in Home Alone. He has worked in dozens of other hit movies like Father of the Bride, The Mighty, The Cider House Rules, and more. Furthermore, Kieran’s smashing performance in Igby Goes Down brought him a nomination for Golden Globe Award.
Similarly, their younger brother Rory, born on 21st July 1989, is also an actor. He grabbed attention after his performance in movies like Scream 4, Lords of Chaos, You Can Count on Me, and more.
On the other hand, Culkin’s sista Quinn Culkin, born in November 1984 has also shared the same love for acting. She began her acting career with the role of Katie McClary in the television series Wish Kid in 1991. Her other credits are the short documentary, The food Son, Behind the Scenes of the Good Son in 1993, and The Good Son and Biography.
His Two Sisters Died
Back in 2008, Macaulay’s sister Dakota died in a tragic car accident at the age of 29. Dakota, then-29, was struck by a vehicle when the girl stepped off the curb and came across a moving car in Los Angeles. Soon after the incident, Dakota was rushed to the UCLA Medical Center. Sadly, because of her massive head trauma, no one could be able to save her life.
In addition to Macaulay’s six biological siblings, the actor had a half-sibling, a sister named Jennifer, who, sadly, died from a drug overdose in 2000.
Culkin Career as a Child Actor and Rise to Fame
Macaulay, who is considered one of the most successful child actors of his generation initially kicked off an acting career playing a variety of stage roles. He made a TV movie debut, appearing in The Midnight Hour (1985). The child actor gradually became part of a few other movies throughout the 1980s until became the international star, playing the lead role of Kevin McCallister in the super-hit comedy Home Alone in 1990. Along with his widespread popularity, the child star also got the Golden Globe Award nomination and won an American Comedy Award.
Culkin also respired the role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, for which, the actor was also paid $4.5 million. Moreover, in 1993, Macaulay went on to pop up in the thriller film The Good Son. His other big-screen credits include Getting Even with Dad, The Pagemaster, and Richie Rich.
At the age of 14, Culkin took a break from acting to live a normal life.
What does Macaulay Culkin do for a living?
Since Culkin took a hiatus from acting as a child actor, He has made numerous movies and TV appearances but has still struggled to achieve the fame Macaulay had as a child performer. He made his come back with the role in the play Madame Melville. He continues to make an appearance in both movies and TV shows.
Macaulay, Home Alone actor.Source: Facebook
His role in the movie Saved! brought him positive reviews. However, Culkin’s role in the movie Sex and Breakfast ended in disappointment as the movie was released on DVD.
His other credits include Poppy de Villeneuve, The Wrong Ferarri, 66 Scenes from America, Angry Video Game Nerd, and more. Back in 2019, the actor snagged the role in Changeland along with his current girlfriend Breda Song.
What happened to Macaulay Culkin?
Despite his early success, Culkin, during his teenage, found himself walking a dark path. He was arrested for the possession of 17.3 grams of marijuana and other stuff in Oklahoma City in Sept 2004. Later on, Home Alone star was prisoned for some time and released on $4,000 bail.
When did Macaulay Culkin get married? Was Under 18 at His Wedding
Culkin married Broadway actress Rachel Miner back in June 1998. As per Culkin’s publicist, Paul Bloch, the two wed at a small stone church in Washington, Conn, in the presence of his family members and friends. Macaulay and his then-wife Rachel both were under 18. Thus, they needed parental consent for the ceremony, which they also received.
Macaulay and his ex-spouse Rachel.The former lovebirds announced their plan to get married a few months earlier their marriage. At the time, the then-romantic duo said that they are “thrilled to have found each other as soul mates at such a tender age.”
They came across when both of them were at York’s Professional Children’s School in 1994. And the two dated for around four years before their marriage.
Their Divorce
Culkin and his now-ex-wife Rachel, who shared the same love for acting, couldn’t last long in their marital relationship. Back in August 2000, a spokesperson for Paul Bloch confirmed EntertainmentTonight that they have separated. He said,
“It is very amicable and they remain best of friends.”
Their divorce proceeding came to an end in 2002. They also didn’t have any children.
Who is Macaulay Culkin Ex-Wife Rachel?
Like her former husband, Rachel, 41, is also an actress. Born and raised in NYC, the actress gained wide attention following her role on the TV soap opera Guiding Light. She appeared on the show from 1990-95.
Moreover, Culkin’s then-spouse Miner gained widespread popularity after played the critically acclaimed role of Meg Masters on the TV series Supernatural. She popped up on the show (2005-20), making it her longest role the actress has ever played.
Her movie credits are The Black Dahlia, Penny Dreadful, and more.
Who is Macaulay Culkin’s girlfriend in 2021?
The actor is now in a relationship with his Changeland co-star Brenda Song. Their dating rumors first surfaced back in late 2017, when the two were spotted attending Instagram’s Knott’s Scary Farm celebrity night. But this news came out a month earlier when Brenda shared a celebration photo along with her then-rumored boyfriend Culkin and other party friends on 22nd August.
Macaulay along with his girlfriend Brenda Song.Source: Metro
Although the loving duo initially tried to keep things to themself, they went public when the duo headed to Berlin, Germany for a vacation in August 2018. At the time, they paid a visit to Knott’s Scary Farm and Paris as well.
Culkin and his new girlfriend Song have since been quite open about their love affair and have also posted a number of photos of themselves on their social media handles. Back in August 2020, on the occasion of Culkin’s 40th birthday, Song posted a photo of the duo with a touching caption,
“Happy 40th birthday to this magical being. I could sit here and write endlessly about how wonderful, kind, loving, genuine, loyal, honest, brilliant and hilarious you are, and how grateful I am that I get to share and do this life thing with you.”
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Does Macaulay Culkin have kids?
Yes, Culkin has one kid with Song. The two welcomed their baby boy, Dakota Song Culkin on 5th April 2021, in Los Angeles. Their son, who was named after his late sister Dakota weighed in at 6 lbs. and 14 oz at the time of his birth. They said in a statement, “We are overjoyed.”
His Relationship With Mila Kunis
Soon after his divorce finalization with his ex-wife Miner, Culkin moved on with actress Mila Kunis. The two were in an on-and-off relationship for years before Kunis’s publicist confirmed that the ex-duo went their separate ways several months previously in Jan 2011. He said that their separation was “amicable, and they remain close friends.”
Macaulay Culkin Friendship With Michael Jackson
Culkin was a good friend of the late pop icon Michael Jackson. At the height of his career as a child actor, Culkin featured in Jackson’s 1991 music video, “Black or White.” The child star also supported the singer throughout his trial for sexual child abuse.
Macaulay and MJ.Source: Facebook
Macaulay Culkin Net Worth
Culkin has an estimated net worth of $18 million. He has racked the major portion of his wealth from his work in two films of the Christmas franchise Home Alone series.
