Daniel Stern Shares His Reason for Skipping Home Alone Anniversary Events

Daniel Stern.
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Snap/Shutterstock; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Home Alone star Daniel Stern lives a much quieter life these days.
• In an exclusive interview, the actor shares his recent activities.
• Now a cattle and citrus farmer and an artist, Stern largely stays out of the spotlight.

Home Alone actor Daniel Stern recently stated that, despite the film’s ongoing popularity, he will not attend any 35th anniversary events.

In a recent interview, Stern reflected on his current lifestyle. “I don’t leave my farm,” he said with a laugh. “It’s no offense to the movie. I’m just a phone call, Zoom call, I’m in. But I’m a bit of a homebody.”

Stern’s character, Marv, is a bumbling criminal alongside Joe Pesci’s Harry, who attempt to rob a house in Chicago, culminating in their hilarious efforts to break into the home of Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, who is left home alone during Christmas.

At 68 years old, Stern exchanged the Hollywood spotlight for a tranquil life on a farm in Ventura County, California, where he and his wife manage cattle and citrus orchards, and he pursues sculpting.

Despite the enduring legacy of Home Alone since its debut in 1990, Stern prefers to appreciate its success from a distance. “I love knowing that everybody loves it, but actual people come at me and say, ‘We love it.’ It’s a little overwhelming sometimes,” he admitted.

Though he had no idea the film would achieve such iconic status in holiday cinema, Stern sensed it was special. “I did know that it was a gem of a movie,” he said. “John Hughes wrote the funniest script I’ve ever read. I was rolling on the floor, laughing reading it. It was so funny, but it was also full of heart.”

In recognition of the film’s 35th anniversary, several cast members, including Culkin, have participated in recent fan events.

Home Alone is currently available for streaming on Disney+.