Home / Arts and Entertainment / Macaulay Culkin Recalls John Candy's Paternal Support During Troubled Childhood
Macaulay Culkin Recalls John Candy's Paternal Support During Troubled Childhood
10 Oct
Summary
- Macaulay Culkin opened up about John Candy's kindness and support on the set of Uncle Buck
- Candy looked out for Culkin and was aware of his difficult home life with an abusive father
- Candy treated child actors with respect and as equals, not talking down to them
A new documentary, John Candy: I Like Me, has shed light on the beloved comedian's heartwarming relationship with child actor Macaulay Culkin during the filming of Uncle Buck in 1989. According to the documentary, which premiered on Prime Video on October 10, 2025, Culkin opened up about Candy's paternal support and kindness on set, even as Culkin was navigating a troubled childhood.
Culkin revealed that Candy was aware of the difficulties in his home life, with an abusive father, and would often "side-eye" Culkin's dad, making sure the young actor was doing alright. The documentary's producers, Jennifer and Christopher Hanks, also expressed their surprise at learning about this special bond between Candy and Culkin, stating that Candy treated all the child actors, including Culkin and Gaby Hoffmann, with immense respect and care.
"He showed us respect," Culkin said in the documentary. "When you're 8 years old, you don't really get respect. Whether it's a workplace or from adults and grown-ups in general. [With John] you felt invited in." Candy's paternal instincts and genuine concern for the well-being of the young actors left a lasting impression, with Culkin noting that this level of care was something he didn't experience often in his life.
