Daniel Stern Shares How the Home Alone House Owners Inspired Him to Create a Sculpture of His Most Famous Scene

Daniel Stern in Home Alone.
Credit:

Disney+

NEED TO KNOW

• Daniel Stern will immortalize his iconic tarantula scene from Home Alone — in bronze.
• The actor, who played “Wet Bandit” Marv in the film, is now a sculptor.
• Stern was commissioned by the family that owns the house featured in the film to create a commemorative piece.

The famous tarantula scene from Home Alone will soon be immortalized in bronze, thanks to Daniel Stern, the actor who portrayed Marv, one of the film’s notorious “Wet Bandits.” The sculpture will be installed in the actual Chicago house featured in the movie.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Stern, now 68 and living as an artist and farmer in California, revealed his recent commission. He has been asked by the new owners of the house to create a sculpture depicting himself alongside the infamous tarantula.

“I got a call from the people who own the Home Alone house,” Stern explained. “They asked if I would do a sculpture for the house, so I’m creating a sculpture of me and the spider.” He humorously noted the craziness of the project: “Whatever that spider’s name was — ‘Charlie’ — is being immortalized in bronze.”

Stern mentioned this project would be his first self-portrait, jokingly admitting, “I’ve made myself a lot handsomer than I actually am in real life — just why not?” Reflecting on the commission, he expressed enthusiasm, stating, “It’s been fun though. I’m going to ship it, but they might have some sort of unveiling. It would be crazy to be in that house; it’s like a tourist attraction.”

Daniel Stern & Joe Pesci in Home Alone.

20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

The home used for exterior shots in the 1990 holiday classic is located in Winnetka, Illinois, where it recently sold for $5.5 million, exceeding its listing price. After first hitting the market at $5.25 million in May 2024, the property garnered national attention, going under contract shortly after.

This iconic residence once served as the backdrop for comedic mayhem as Stern and Joe Pesci’s characters attempted to rob Kevin McCallister’s home. Reflecting on a memorable filming moment, Stern recalled how his scream during the tarantula scene was an homage to a famous moment from Hitchcock’s Psycho.

Despite the humor, there were real concerns on set related to the tarantula. Stern noted that a “tarantula trainer” was present but remarked, “they can’t really train him… Is he gonna care that I scream at him? He can’t hear.” He humorously concluded, “If we take the stinger out, he’ll die. But if you don’t, then I’ll die.”

Home Alone is currently available for streaming on Disney+.