A father's tragic death haunted 'Home Alone' star for years

In a recent emotional post on his personal social media account, Macaulay Culkin (43 years old) shared that becoming a father has helped him to approach Father's Day in a new light.

Macaulay grew up with an abusive father, which left him with complex feelings about Father's Day. After becoming a father to his two sons - Dakota (3 years old) and Carson (1 year old), Macaulay decided to change his perspective on this day.

Macaulay Culkin's role in the movie "Home Alone" (1990) is his most successful role in his career (Photo: People).

Previously, Macaulay felt conflicted watching people celebrate their fathers on this day.

When he became a father himself, Macaulay decided to focus on activities with his children to make this day a happy one for them.

"I decided to think differently, to feel differently. Father's Day will no longer be about my own conflicted feelings, but about those who have helped me understand what it means to be a father," Macaulay shared.

In an interview in 2018, Macaulay revealed that his relationship with his biological father - actor Kit Culkin (79 years old) - had many issues before he became a child actor.

According to Macaulay, Kit Culkin had a tendency to be abusive, often resorting to physical and emotional violence, using a belt whenever his children displeased him.

"My father abused his family both physically and mentally. I can show you scars that never fade. My father was also very jealous. The things he tried so hard to achieve, I had achieved before I was 10. That made the relationship between my father and me very difficult and sad," Macaulay shared bitterly.

Macaulay with his biological father when he was young (Photo: Page Six).

The actor has not been in contact with his father for over 25 years. He has developed his concept of being a good father through movies.

"My father always made his family feel small. There are things that can't be fully expressed, you need to really be in that situation to understand," Macaulay candidly shared.

Actor Macaulay Culkin and his six siblings grew up in poverty. The large family lived in a small, cramped apartment with one bedroom in Manhattan, New York, USA. In his career, Kit Culkin pursued acting on stage.

The Culkin family's life changed when Macaulay became famous as a child actor. Macaulay's earnings supported the family but strained his relationship with his father.

Ultimately, Macaulay filed a lawsuit to completely escape the interference and control of his parents over his work, life, and finances since he was 16 years old.

At a young age, Macaulay appeared in films like Rocket Gibraltar (1988), See You in the Morning (1989), Uncle Buck (1989), Home Alone (1990), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)...

At the age of 14, Macaulay paused his acting career due to personal turmoil. Macaulay's acting career can be summarized as "a moment of glory and then quickly fading away." His later years were tumultuous.

He faced legal troubles for drug possession multiple times. There were periods when Macaulay seemed lost, troubled to a worrisome extent. This led to rumors circulating that Macaulay was seriously ill, nearing... death.

Macaulay with girlfriend Brenda Song and their two young children (Photo: People).

Macaulay Culkin's story is a typical example of the tragic "early fame, quick decline" narrative that happens to child stars in Hollywood.

Having an unconventional childhood, feeling exploited by his parents for money, having to find a way to mature on his own, and ultimately, in wealth and loneliness, Macaulay faltered early, seemingly unable to recover.

It was only when he entered a relationship with actress Brenda Song that Macaulay began to find some peace. Currently, Macaulay appears healthy and re-emerged with some supporting roles in TV and film.

Macaulay has been in a relationship with Brenda Song since 2017, and they lead a relatively private life. They both strive to provide their two young children with as normal a childhood as possible.