Macaulay Culkin’s Family, Children, and Closest Friends: Everything You Need to Know

Macaulay Culkin became known around the world as the clever boy in Home Alone. His early start in acting, relationships, and connections with friends have shaped his life in and out of the public eye. Friends and family have been important to him since his childhood in New York.

Family and Upbringing

Culkin grew up in a small New York City apartment. He had six siblings and started acting at age four. His father, Kit Culkin, was once a stage actor, while his mother, Patricia Brentrup, was largely involved in managing the busy family.

His childhood was shaped by strong family ties, but also by the pressures of fame. Culkin’s siblings include Shane, Kieran, Rory, Quinn, Christian, and Dakota, many of whom pursued acting as well. Tragedy struck when his sister Dakota died in 2008.

Macaulay Culkin is currently engaged to actress Brenda Song. The couple met while filming Changeland in Thailand in 2017. They became engaged in January 2022. Brenda Song has worked in television and film since childhood.

Together, they welcomed a son, Dakota, born in April 2021. Dakota Culkin is their only known child, and he is biologically theirs. Culkin lives a quieter life now, focusing on his family and children, and keeps much of their life private.

Name	Relation	Birth Year
Kit Culkin	Father	1944
Patricia Brentrup	Mother	1954
Shane Culkin	Brother	1976
Kieran Culkin	Brother	1982
Rory Culkin	Brother	1989
Quinn Culkin	Sister	1984
Christian Culkin	Brother	1987
Dakota Culkin	Sister	1979
Dakota Song Culkin	Son	2021
Brenda Song	Fiancée	1988

Relationships and Past Partners

Culkin’s first marriage was to actress Rachel Miner. They married in 1998, when both were just 18. Their relationship ended in divorce in 2002, reportedly due to their young age and diverging life paths. Miner is an actress known for her work on stage and screen.

After his divorce, Culkin began dating actress Mila Kunis in 2002. Kunis, known for That ’70s Show and the voice of Meg on Family Guy, is of Ukrainian-Jewish descent. She and Culkin dated for nearly eight years, breaking up in 2010. The separation was said to be mutual.

Brenda Song is his current partner, and he became engaged to her in 2022. Their relationship started after working together on a movie. Earlier, Culkin’s love life was often in the spotlight, but he now keeps his relationships more private, focusing on his family with Song and their children.

Name	Relationship Type	Time Period
Rachel Miner	Ex-Wife	1998–2002
Mila Kunis	Ex-Girlfriend	2002–2010

Friends and Close Connections

Culkin was close friends with Michael Jackson. Their friendship started after he starred in the Black or White music video in 1991. Culkin often visited Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Their friendship endured despite public attention and media controversy.

Another close friend is Seth Green, whom Culkin met through shared acting circles. They appeared together in the film Changeland (2019). Over the years, Green and Culkin have remained supportive, both in acting and personal projects.

Macaulay is known to maintain friendships outside Hollywood too. He prefers to keep his circle of friends close and private. Many of his friends come from his music background, including members of his band, The Pizza Underground. These friendships seem to be based on mutual hobbies and a shared sense of humor.

Name	Known Since	Profession
Michael Jackson	1991	Musician
Seth Green	2000s	Actor, Producer
Jack Dishel	2013	Musician