Macaulay Culkin has shared clear boundaries for fans hoping to greet him in public.
The former child star explained on the “SmartLess” podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, that although he appreciates his supporters, he values privacy when he’s with his family.
“I’m not comfortable being approached while I’m eating, and especially not when I’m with my kids,” said the 45-year-old actor, who shares two young children — Dakota, 4, and Carson, 3 — with actress Brenda Song.
Macaulay Culkin attends the fifth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2025.
Culkin also made it clear that there are some lines fans should never cross — including following him into the bathroom.
The “Home Alone” actor explained that he began enforcing firm boundaries after realizing he has control over how and when he interacts with fans outside of organized public appearances.
“I realized I’m the one who sets the social contract,” Culkin said. “I control the interaction, and I can steer how it goes.”
Culkin began working in Hollywood as a child in the late 1980s, but his career skyrocketed in 1990 with the release of “Home Alone,” instantly making him one of the most recognizable faces in the world.
By age 14, after starring in blockbuster hits such as “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” “My Girl,” and “Richie Rich,” Culkin chose to step back from acting, slowing his career just as his fame reached its peak.
Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin attend the after-party for the premiere of Focus Features’ “Song Sung Blue” during the 2025 AFI Fest at Mother Wolf in Los Angeles on Oct. 26, 2025.
Reflecting on that period of his life, Culkin said he never seriously considered going to college, explaining that earning a degree didn’t feel necessary for him.
“If I had wanted to study something like English literature, that would have made sense,” he said. “But I just didn’t have that drive in me.”
Instead, Culkin spent several years exploring what direction he wanted his life to take. Around age 20, he moved to London, where he returned to acting by performing in a stage play before eventually coming back to the United States.
A Saint Joseph’s fan holds up a cardboard cutout of Macaulay Culkin during the team’s game against Notre Dame at Barclays Center.
In a recent appearance on “Mythical Kitchen,” the “Richie Rich” actor offered more insight into his decision to step back from Hollywood at the height of his fame.
“What I really wanted was to be around people my own age,” Culkin said, explaining that much of his early work was done solo rather than as part of an ensemble cast.
“When I was young, it was mostly just me,” he continued. “I wanted to go out, date, spend time with people my own age, and go to parties. I missed so many bar mitzvahs.”
The “Home Alone” actor explained that he started enforcing firm boundaries after realizing he has full control over how he engages with fans outside of official public appearances.
Culkin also shared that his path into acting was largely unplanned. He recalled tagging along when his father, Kit Culkin, took his older siblings to have headshots taken.
“My mom just wanted a break and said, ‘Take Mac with you,’” he said. “Right away — first audition — booked, booked, booked.”
“This wasn’t a career I went looking for,” Culkin added. “It found me. That’s why I eventually came back to it.”
After stepping away from Hollywood for several years, the “My Girl” star returned to acting in 2003 with his role in “Party Monster.”
