Remember the wild antics and clever traps Kevin McCallister set in the classic movie “Home Alone”? Actor Macaulay Culkin, who played young Kevin, recently pulled back the curtain on some of those iconic moments. He shared surprising details during an interview on the popular show “Hot Ones” with host Sean Evans. Culkin finally revealed the truth about a long-standing rumor regarding his stunt double.
It turns out the small stand-in for Kevin wasn’t a child at all. His name was Larry Nicholas, and he was a 30-year-old stunt performer of short stature. Culkin shared a fun story about their very first meeting on the set.
Meeting Larry for the First Time
Culkin recalled seeing Larry in the costume department. Larry was wearing the exact same clothes that Macaulay was. Nine-year-old Macaulay greeted him like another kid. “Oh, hey, Larry, how are you?” he asked, thinking Larry was around his age.
Larry replied, “I’m good. I’m Larry, the stuntman.” Then, he looked at Macaulay and asked, “How old do you think I am?” Macaulay found this a very odd question. He was nine, so he guessed Larry might be thirteen. Larry just laughed, revealing his true age: he was 30 years old.
The Dangers of Filming
Filming those over-the-top stunts was no easy task. Culkin remembered one scary moment vividly. A shelf broke during a scene, and Larry took a hard fall. It was quite a shock for everyone working on set.
Macaulay, still thinking Larry was a teenager, even found himself telling the crew to be gentle. He would say things like, “Take it easy on Larry, he’s only thirteen!” He felt protective of his presumed young co-star. Culkin also mentioned the first take of a stunt was often dangerous. Sometimes they had to do takes over and over.
About the Film
The movie “Home Alone” first hit theaters in 1990. Macaulay Culkin played the main character. He was very young at the time. This meant he couldn’t safely perform all the daring physical stunts needed for the role. That’s why talented stunt performers like Larry Nicholas were so important.
Larry, being 30 years old and of short stature, could safely perform the falls and tumbles that made Kevin’s booby traps look so real. The film became a massive success, and Larry’s work helped make those unforgettable scenes possible.