Macaulay Culkin’s early fame was shaped by serious family struggles. Despite major success, his family lived “in cramped quarters,” and his father was reportedly controlling and abusive. A bitter custody battle later deepened the tension, leaving emotional scars that followed him for years.

As his career exploded, Culkin began taking control of his own life and money. Overwhelmed by nonstop work and attention, he chose to step away from acting at a very young age. “I just wanted a little bit of a break. I wanted a summer vacation for the first time in, you know, forever,” he told Time.

Looking back, he described how intense his workload really was. On Larry King Live, Culkin said, “I did 14 movies in six years… I really wanted to take a break. I always joke, ‘Yeah, I retired at 14.’” Leaving Hollywood was his way of reclaiming a childhood he felt he never had.

He later enjoyed brief moments of normalcy while attending the Professional Children’s School, though fame never fully faded. Even small personal choices became headlines. “I did purple and I did pink and I did orange, and they made such a big deal out of it — it was on the cover of People!” he told New York Magazine.

Tragedy struck again with the death of his sister Dakota. Remembering their final conversation, Culkin told Esquire, “Tonight was the last time I talked to her… She passed away overnight, kinda thing.”