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Macaulay Culkin

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Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin in 1991
Born
Macaulay Culkin
OccupationActor
Years active1985–1994;
2003–present
SpouseRachel Miner (1998–2000) (divorced)
PartnerMila Kunis (2002–present)

Macaulay Carson Culkin (born August 26, 1980) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and the title character of Richie Rich. At the height of his fame he was regarded as the most successful child actor since Shirley Temple. He was also best friends with singer/pop king Michael Jackson for most of his childhood.[1] He was ranked # 2 in both VH1 and E!'s list of the "100 Greatest Kid-Stars" and "50 Greatest Child Stars".[2]

Early life

Culkin was born and raised in the Yorkville area of Manhattan, New York, the son of Patricia Brentrup and Kit Culkin, a former stage actor with a long career on Broadway.[3] Culkin was the couple's third of seven children; he has four brothers: Shane (born 1976), Kieran (born 1982), Christian (born 1987) and Rory (born 1989), and two sisters: Dakota (1979-2008)[4] and Quinn (born 1984). Culkin is the nephew of actress Bonnie Bedelia, who is his father's sister. During Culkin's early childhood, the family lived in a small apartment; his mother was a telephone operator and his father worked as a sacristan at a local Catholic church. Culkin was raised an Irish Catholic[5] and attended a Catholic school (St. Joseph's School of Yorkville) before moving on to Professional Children's School. Culkin also studied ballet at the School of American Ballet. [6]

Career

Culkin began acting at the age of four, appearing in a stage production of Bach Babies at the New York Philharmonic. He continued appearing in roles on stage, television, and in films throughout the 1980s. Notable parts in this period included an episode of the popular action series The Equalizer in which he played the victim of a kidnapping. He also appeared in the movie Uncle Buck in which his character probed John Candy's title character over his background on the basis that "I'm a kid - that's my job".[7]

Culkin rose to international fame with his lead role as Kevin McCallister in the blockbuster film Home Alone (1990), where he was reunited with Uncle Buck's writer and director John Hughes.[8] He reprised the role of Kevin in the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Around this time, Culkin struck up a friendship with pop legend Michael Jackson, making an appearance in the "Black or White" music video. Culkin and Jackson would go on vacation together and have water balloon fights at the Neverland Ranch. His brothers, Shane and Kieran would occasionally join them. He would later be selected by Jackson to be the godfather of his children Prince Michael Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, and Prince Michael Jackson II.

Culkin also starred in a Saturday morning cartoon entitled Wish Kid, and hosted Saturday Night Live in late 1991.

Despite the huge success of Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and My Girl, other films Culkin acted in, such as The Good Son, which co-starred Elijah Wood and Culkin's sister, Quinn Culkin (and featured a photo cameo of Culkin's youngest sibling, Rory, as Culkin's deceased infant brother), only did reasonably well. He was nominated for MTV Movie Award in the catogory for Best Villan for his performance in the film. Getting Even with Dad, Richie Rich and The Pagemaster, all released in 1994, were all only mildly successful at the box office. He also appeared in a filmed version of The Nutcracker as the title role in 1993, which was staged from the 1954 George Balanchine New York City Ballet version of the ballet. He appeared in the 1998 music video for the song "Sunday" by the rock band Sonic Youth.

After several years of inactivity, Culkin returned to acting in 2000 with a role in the play Madame Melville, which was staged in London's West End.[9] In the spring of 2003, he made a guest appearance on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace.[10] His role as Karen Walker's immature divorce lawyer won him favorable reviews. Culkin headed back into motion pictures in 2003 with Party Monster, in which he played a role very different from those he was known for, that of party promoter Michael Alig, a drug user and murderer. He quickly followed that with a supporting part in Saved!, as a cynical non-Christian student who uses a wheelchair in a conservative Christian high school. Though Saved! only had modest success at the box office, Culkin received positive reviews for his role in the film and its implications for a career as an adult actor.[11][12][13]

Culkin began a career in voice over, with his appearances on Seth Green's Robot Chicken. In 2006, he published an experimental, semi-autobiographical novel, Junior, which featured details into Culkin's stardom and his shaky relationship with his father. Culkin starred in Sex and Breakfast, a dark comedy written and directed by Miles Brandman.[14] Alexis Dziena, Kuno Becker and Eliza Dushku also star in this story of a couple whose therapist recommends group sex to them. Shooting for the film, Culkin's first since Saved!, took place in September 2006. The film opened in Los Angeles on November 30, 2007, and was released on DVD on January 22, 2008 by First Look Pictures. Culkin's most recent project was a role in the thirteen-episode NBC television series Kings as Andrew Cross.[15]

In 2009, Culkin appeared in a UK-based commercial for Aviva Insurance (formerly Norwich Union) to help promote their company's rebranding. Culkin stared into the camera citing the phrase "Remember me".

On August 17, 2009, Culkin made a brief cameo appearance on WWE RAW following a "falls count anywhere" match between Hornswoggle and Chavo Guerrero in which Guerrero was defeated by the classic Home Alone gag of rigging a swinging paint can to hit him upon opening a door. Culkin appeared in the doorway and said, "That's not funny."

Personal life

When Culkin was fourteen years old, his parents disputed custody. Subsequently, Culkin was legally emancipated from them. His father had also been his manager.[16]

He was married to Rachel Miner from 1998-2000.[17]

Though raised for a time in the Roman Catholic faith, his father Kit later withdrew his children from the church, and Macaulay now explains himself as more spiritual than anything else. The 2004 film Saved!, in which Culkin starred, proved controversial among many in America's Christian community.[18]

Culkin has dated actress Mila Kunis since 2002. Rumors have circulated since early 2006 that they are planning to marry.[19][20]

On September 17, 2004, Culkin was arrested in Oklahoma City for the possession of 17.3g of marijuana and two controlled substances, namely 16 mg of Xanax and 32 mg of clonazepam.[21] Culkin was briefly jailed in Oklahoma but soon released on a $4,000 bond.[22][23] He was later arraigned in court for misdemeanor drug offenses. His trial (October 15, 2004–June 9, 2005) saw him initially plead not guilty but later reverse his plea to guilty. His lawyers reached a plea bargain with the state of Oklahoma and he received three one-year suspended prison terms, a probationary drug treatment program and a $540 fine.

He currently lives in Los Angeles, California but still spends much of his time in New York City, New York.

Culkin and Kunis made headlines in the summer of 2006 when their vacation in Tel Aviv, Israel was interrupted by the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and rocket attacks from Hezbollah. Culkin persuaded Kunis, who is Jewish, that they needed to leave immediately as Israel's 33-day conflict with Lebanon began.[24]

Culkin is an avid professional wrestling fan and can be seen at the WWE's WrestleMania VII pay-per-view as a spectator.[25] He has attended several WWE shows and appeared backstage at WrestleMania XXIV. He also made an appearance on the August 17th 2009 edition of Monday Night Raw in a segment featuring Chavo Guerrero which referenced Home Alone.[26]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1985 The Midnight Hour Halloween Kid (Uncredited)
1988 The Equalizer Paul Gephardt (1 episode)
Rocket Gibraltar Cy Blue Black
1989 See You in the Morning Billy Livingstone
Uncle Buck Miles Russell
1990 Jacob's Ladder Gabe Singer Uncredited
Home Alone Kevin McCallister American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Emerging Actor
Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1991 Wish Kid Nicholas McClary
Only the Lonely Billy Muldoon
1992 My Girl Thomas Jay Sennett MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss shared with Anna Chlumsky
Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo shared with Anna Chlumsky
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Kevin McCallister
1993 Dangerous: The Short Films Himself
The Good Son Henry Evans Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Villain
The Nutcracker The Nutcracker Prince
1994 Getting Even with Dad Timmy Gleason
The Pagemaster Richard Tyler
Frasier Elliot (Voice) (1 episode)
Richie Rich Richie Rich
2003 Party Monster Michael Alig
2004 Will and Grace Karen's Divorce Lawyer, Jason Towne (1 episode)
Saved! Roland
2007 Sex and Breakfast James
2009 Kings Andrew Cross

References

  1. ^ James, Caryn. "Macaulay Culkin - Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  2. ^ "The Greatest : 100 Greatest Kid Stars (100 - 81) | VSPOT Video Clips, Photos, Episodes and Online Message Boards from the Reality TV Show | VH1.com". VH1.com<!. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  3. ^ "Macaulay Culkin Biography (1980?-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  4. ^ "Macaulay's Sister Dies - TMZ.com". TMZ.com<!. 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  5. ^ "CNN.com - Transcripts". Transcripts.cnn.com. 2004-05-27. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  6. ^ "Culkin biography at". Fandango.com. 1980-08-26. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  7. ^ "Uncle Buck: John Candy, Macaulay Culkin, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Madigan, Elaine Bromka, Garrett M. Brown, Laurie Metcalf, Jay Underwood, Brian Taran..." Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  8. ^ Home Alone (1990)
  9. ^ "ENTERTAINMENT | Culkin happy away from home". BBC News. 2000-10-19. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  10. ^ "Macaulay Culkin - Yahoo! TV". Tv.yahoo.com. 1980-08-26. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  11. ^ "Saved! Movie Review - Saved! Movie Trailer - The Boston Globe". Boston.com. 2004-06-11. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  12. ^ Guidelive.com[dead link]
  13. ^ Denby, David (2009-01-07). "Outsiders: The New Yorker". The New Yorker<!. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  14. ^ "Movies - News - Macaulay Culkin has 'Sex and Breakfast' - Digital Spy". Digital Spy<!. 2006-08-03. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  15. ^ "NBC's Kings snags Macaulay Culkin - TV Squad". TV Squad<!. 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  16. ^ "Macaulay Culkin Biography, Bio, Prodfile, pictures, photos from Netglimse.com". Netglimse.com<!. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  17. ^ "He's not home alone now. (teen actors Rachel Miner and Macaulay Culkin, both 17, announce their marriage intentions)(Brief Article) | Article from Newsweek | HighBeam Research". Highbeam.com. 1998-04-13. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  18. ^ "Encore Presentation: Interview With Macaulay Culkin".
  19. ^ Culkin and Kunis Plan a Wedding, a Hollywood.com news article
  20. ^ "Kunis Fed Up With Culkin Engagement Reports". Retrieved 12-01-2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  21. ^ "Actor Macaulay Culkin arrested for drug possession". Usatoday.com. 2004-09-17. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  22. ^ "Macaulay Culkin Drug Bust - September 17, 2004". Thesmokinggun.com. 2004-09-17. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  23. ^ "Macaulay Culkin Arrested On Drug Charges".
  24. ^ "Macaulay Culkin flees Israel".
  25. ^ "Macaulay Culkin Bio".
  26. ^ "More backstage Raw news, Macaulay Culkin at 'Mania & more".
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