Macaulay Culkin, one of the most famous American child stars, was bornon August 26, 1980 in New York City, New York, USA, as the third of sevenchildren of his fatherKit Culkin (a former stageand child actor and also Macaulay's former manager) and motherPatricia Brentrup. He is the brother ofShane Culkin,Dakota Culkin,Kieran Culkin,Quinn Culkin,Christian Culkin, andRory Culkin, most of whom have also acted. Macaulay's mother,who is from North Dakota, is of German and Norwegian descent.Macaulay's father, from Manhattan, has Irish, German, English,Swiss-German, and French ancestry.

"Mack", as he's known to his close friends and family, first came intoshowbiz at the age of 4, appearing in a string of Off-Broadway showssuch as the New York City Ballet's The Nutcracker and, by 8 years-old,the filmsジブラルタル号の出帆（たびだち） (1988) andSee You in the Morning (1989),which included him in the rare company of kids who have received ravereviews from The New Yorker and The New York Times.

By the age of 9, the young actor had nearly upstaged starJohn Candy inUncle Buck (1989) (his deadpaninterrogation of Candy was Buck's funniest scene). Then, in 1990,writerJohn Hughes turned hisfinishedHomu aron (1990) script overto directorChris Columbus with asuggestion to consider Culkin for the lead. Though Macaulay was thefirst kid Columbus saw, he was skeptical about having him in the leadand saw over 200 other possible actors and he admitted that no one cameas close to being as good as Culkin. By the callback interview, Mackhad memorized two scenes, and Columbus was sure he found his "KevinMcCallister". The movie grossed more than $285 million in the US alone,becoming one of the highest grossing movies of all time and makingMacaulay Culkin one of the biggest movie stars of the time.

His next big project wasMy Girl (1991)in which he played "Thomas J. Sennett", a boy who seems to be allergicto everything. Despite some controversy over the ending, the film wasreleased anyway and proved to be another hit film for Mack (andfeatured his very first kiss). In 1992 cameHômu arôn 2 (1992),which grossed more than $172 million in the US alone. In 1993 cameThe Good Son (1993), which was thefirst role to depart from his cute kid comedies. He played a murderouslittle demon named Henry. He got the role when his powerhousenegotiator/manager/father Kit Culkin said that he would pull Mack outofHômu arôn 2 (1992)unless he was given the psychotic boy lead inThe Good Son (1993). He was alsogiven a salary of $5 million for the film.

In 1994, at the age of 14, came a string of duds,The Pagemaster (1994),Getting Even with Dad (1994)andRi¢hie Ri¢h (1994). He was paid$8 million for the last two, the highest salary ever paid for a childstar. Many people believed Mack had lost his touch, though, because hewas no longer that cute tiny kid they saw inHomu aron (1990). In 1995 hisparents, who were never married, separated and started a greedy legalbattle over the custody of their kids and Mack's fortune. In 1996, theyoung actor had reportedly said he wouldn't accept any roles until hisparents settled their custody dispute. That case would not be resolveduntil April 1997 when Kit Culkin relinquished control to Brentrup.

In 1998, Macaulay married actressRachel Miner, but separated in 2000because Rachel wanted to start a family and Mack wanted to get backinto acting. There has been a gap of eight years since 1994'sRi¢hie Ri¢h (1994), and although hemade a'comeback' on stage in 2001, appearing in a London production of"Madame Melville", and also portrayedMichael AliginParty Monster (2003); with anestimated fortune of $17 million he clearly never has to work again -if the roles don't appeal to him.