Daniel Stern is Home and Alone

⏱️ 11 min read             

Remember Marv, the bumbling burglar from Home Alone? 

Well, he's traded break-ins for something far sweeter—tangerines and sculpture. Actor Daniel Stern has gone from Hollywood to farm life, sharing his artistic journey and everyday adventures with a growing social media audience. 

His journey to where he is today was unexpected but a very inspiring transformation. 

Welcome to That's Life, I Swear. This podcast is about life's happenings in this world that conjure up such words as intriguing, frightening, life-changing, inspiring, and more. I'm Rick Barron your host. 

That said, here's the rest of this story 

We've all been to the movies and come across many actors. Some famous, some not so famous and some were on the cusp. Now and then we think of an actor and conjure up that infamous question: what ever happened to that guy?

One person who comes to mind regarding that question is actor, Daniel Stern.  

You're saying Daniel Stern, Daniel Stern…? Here's a hint, he was one of the two villains trying to break into the house on Christmas Eve in the movie, Home Alone, with Macaulay Culkin.

Daniel Stern had a good run as an actor and still does today.

At 68, Stern has evolved far beyond his iconic role as the bumbling burglar Marv in the beloved holiday movie watched every Christmas season. Though he spent four decades on Hollywood screens, his current passions lie in crafting bronze sculptures and tending to his family's agricultural ventures in Ventura County, California. There, he entertains his six grandkids by recreating the slapstick antics that made him famous not just in the "Home Alone" series, but also in films like "City Slickers", “Breaking Away”, and "Bushwhacked."

Despite his varied career, most viewers will always remember him as one-half of the notorious burglars in “Home Alone”.

As Marv, Stern played the more dimwitted counterpart to Joe Pesci's calculating Harry. Together, they targeted wealthy Chicago homes during the holiday season in "Home Alone," only to be repeatedly outmaneuvered by clever young Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, who defended his house with an arsenal of creative traps. The original film and its follow-up have earned their place among holiday classics.

The enduring popularity of "Home Alone" across different generations amazes Stern and is grateful. While his role as Marv continues to delight viewers, he's now connecting with audiences in a new way - sharing glimpses of his rural lifestyle on social media. His TikTok and Instagram followers experience everything from his tangerine harvesting adventures to intimate peeks into his sculpture workshop.

His social media followers have embraced a new side of the former screen villain, watching with delight as he proudly showcases his citrus farm and skills in crafting bronze sculptures. His latest online persona has even earned him an endearing moniker: the Citrus Bandit.

"My kid pointed out that I've become something of a seasonal celebrity - making appearances year after year," Stern shared. The observation took on a deeper meaning when his 42-year-old son Henry noted, "These followers appreciate you for who you are, Dad - they're connecting with your actual passions, not just your acting roles."

Stern has been sharing glimpses of ranch life with his wife, Laure Mattos, whose family's ranching heritage in California stretches back to the 1800s for over a year now. He suspects the surge in his social media following coincides with the holiday movie season, when people naturally wonder, "Whatever happened to that actor?"

The newfound attention brings a smile to Stern's face. "That's exactly why I share my art and farming life," he explained. "Any creative endeavor comes full circle when you can share it with others and see their response." The viral success of his social media content - with two videos reaching nearly two million views each - has left Stern somewhat taken aback. However, this isn't his first experience with unexpected fame. He experienced similar feelings when "Home Alone" and "City Slickers" transformed him from a working actor into a recognizable star. Many also know his voice work as the grown-up Kevin Arnold narrating "The Wonder Years."

"It's remarkable and sometimes overwhelming to process all this affection," Sterns reflects. "To think that you've become this small but meaningful part of strangers' lives - it's quite surreal."

These days, his followers see the real person behind the characters. His daily routine begins with a morning stroll through the orchard or nearby farmland, followed by long hours in his sculpture studio until evening. Bronze sculpting became his serious pursuit about 25 years ago, leading him to seek out public art commissions. "I wanted to capture and share community stories through my work."

One should visit Stern’s website [at Daniel Stern Art] to see all of the sculptures he’s completed. The man, without question, has talent, almost a natural. 

"I design my sculptures to be interactive," he explained. "I want people to feel free to climb and explore them."

"Nothing brings me more joy than seeing people interact with my art, striking poses in front of the camera," he shared. 

Among his many creations, Stern holds a special place in his heart for a particular piece: a sculpture commemorating Monrovia's rich cinematic heritage in California's San Gabriel Valley, featuring an unnamed filmmaker at its center.

One of his most ambitious projects came with an ironic twist - despite his fear of heights, he created two towering eight-foot totems representing male and female figures. Each totem was composed of four stacked figures sculpted from foam. The project's scale required the foundry to divide the pieces into 15 sections for casting. The entire process spanned an impressive twelve months - seven for sculpting and five for the foundry's intricate molding and casting work.

Following his peak fame in the 1990s, Stern has found contentment in his "heavenly" ranch lifestyle. While he's stepped back from full-time acting, he hasn't entirely left the screen behind, making appearances in series like "Shrill" and "For All Mankind."

His slower pace in life today has opened doors to new creative ventures. Earlier this year, he released his book "Home and Alone " - a title that playfully reflects his preferred solitary lifestyle. His current projects include an unexpected collaboration with CeeLo Green on a musical adaptation of his 1984 horror film "C.H.U.D." He's also pitching his own darkly comedic holiday film to studios.

Interestingly, Stern hasn't revisited "Home Alone" since its 1990 premiere, as he rarely rewatches films. However, he recently broke this pattern by viewing "The Wizard of Oz" for the first time since childhood, when he'd only seen it on a black-and-white television. The magical transition from monochrome to technicolor as Dorothy enters Oz gives him a fresh perspective on the film's impact.

"I was enchanted," he recalled. The experience led him to reflect: "For some viewers, 'Home Alone' holds the same magical place in their hearts that 'The Wizard of Oz' does in mine."

Finding his path through the holiday season as a Jewish parent, Stern created unique traditions when his children expressed disappointment about not celebrating Christmas.

"I introduced them to Hanukkah Harry," he explained, drawing inspiration from Jon Lovitz's beloved "Saturday Night Live" character. His children embraced the concept wholeheartedly, exchanging letters with Harry (secretly penned by Stern himself). But their family's version came with a charitable twist - Hanukkah Harry's gifts were meant to be shared with those in need.

The celebrations grew increasingly elaborate over the years. One memorable Hanukkah saw their living room transformed into a food bank of canned goods. Another featured an intricate treasure hunt worthy of Kevin McCallister's ingenuity, culminating in a spectacular finale where $1,000 in single bills had been carefully placed on their ceiling fan. The children's reward? Choosing where to donate their windfall.

When asked about Hanukkah Harry's plans for next year's festivities, Stern maintains a playful air of mystery.

Such generous holiday traditions might seem unexpected from someone known for playing a notorious burglar, but Stern defends Marv's character. "Remember," he said with a grin, "Harry was the real villain. I was just along for the ride!"   

What can we learn from this story? What's the takeaway?

Stern’s journey from the Home Alone star to rancher and artist is both surprising and inspiring. Whether sculpting a flamenco dancer or juicing tangerines, he shows that life after fame can be rich with purpose and creativity. 

Stern joins a growing list of celebrities who’ve chosen quieter lives away from the limelight, proving that true success lies in pursuing what genuinely brings joy. For Stern, it’s a life that’s as refreshing as his tangerine juice and as timeless as his performance in Home Alone.

Well, there you go, my friends; that's life, I swear

For further information regarding the material covered in this episode, I invite you to visit my website, which you can find on Apple Podcasts for show notes and the episode transcript.

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