Home Alone Almost Cast One of the Greatest Actors of All Time & 7 More Stars in Key Roles

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After 35 years, Home Alone remains a beloved Christmas tradition. The film launched Macaulay Culkin to stardom and continues to delight audiences of all ages. It’s a yearly rewatch for many, teaching valuable lessons about family, the true spirit of the holidays, staying calm under pressure, and… well, impressively setting traps (though thankfully, only for the comically inept Wet Bandits!). Currently, it’s the most popular movie on Disney+ worldwide, a testament to its wonderful cast – but the cast almost looked quite different!

It’s surprising to learn that several famous actors were considered for roles in Home Alone, including screen legend James Stewart. According to Louise Hilton, an archivist at the Academy Museum, casting documents reveal Stewart was a possibility for the part of Old Man Marley. While his agent expressed interest and he was available, the filmmakers ultimately chose Robert Blossom for the role. Stewart was already well-known for his Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life.

@academymuseum

To celebrate today’s screening of Home Alone at the Academy Museum, archivist Louise is sharing some fascinating casting notes. These notes, from the Academy Collection at the Margaret Herrick Library, reveal a famous Hollywood star who was almost in the movie! #academymuseum #filmscreening #homealone #casting #filmhistory

♬ Christmas Is Coming – DM Production

The roles of Harry and Marv almost went to different actors. Originally, the idea was to cast an older Harry and a younger Marv, but someone suggested Tim Curry and Dan Stern would be a great pairing. Joe Pesci was offered the part of Harry without even auditioning, though the filmmakers doubted he’d accept. Surprisingly, he did, and his chemistry with Stern created a classic Christmas film duo. Tim Curry later appeared in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York as the hotel concierge.

Before Catherine O’Hara and John Heard were cast as Kevin’s parents, Kate and Peter McAllister, several other actors were considered for the roles. Among those considered were Susan Sarandon, Blythe Danner, Joanna Cassidy, and Kirstie Alley for the part of Kate, and Sam Waterston and David Dukes for Peter.

Home Alone’s Cast Is Perfect

Although some actors who were considered for the roles would have likely been excellent, the final cast is perfect. This is a major reason the movie was so popular when it came out, and why it remains a beloved holiday tradition for families.

Joe Pesci’s experience playing intimidating characters makes him convincing as Harry, and his surprisingly good physical comedy perfectly complements the dynamic with Marv. Their pairing is effective because Harry seems like the older, more sensible one, while Marv is younger and acts foolishly. The scenes between Catherine O’Hara’s Blossom and Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, are genuinely touching, but the character needed to feel truly threatening before her backstory is revealed – something that might not have come across as well with a different actor.

It’s hard to picture anyone else playing Kate McCallister. The connection between Kevin and his mom is central to the first two Home Alone films, and Catherine O’Hara’s chemistry with Macaulay Culkin is what truly makes it special. They bounce off each other wonderfully, and her performance—especially that iconic “KEVIN!”—is unforgettable. It’s difficult to imagine another actress delivering that line with the same impact.

Home Alone is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-12-16 17:53