Daniel Stern makes surprising comments regarding 'Home Alone'

 

Daniel Stern has seen Home Alone only once, and that was a long time ago.

The actor, best remembered for his hilarious depiction of one of the "Wet Bandits" in the 1990 holiday classic Home Alone, recently disclosed that he had only seen the film in its entirety once—at its debut more than three decades ago.

In an interview with People, Stern, 67, discussed reprising his famed role.

"I have seen footage. I've noticed it pop up. Or, like, they have highlights when you turn on the TV, and when I turn on the TV, I'm falling on the toys or whatever," he explained.

However, he has not sat down to watch the full movie again.

"Am I going to burrow down and watch you? I adore the movie. It's incredible. "I know the script inside and out," he said.

Stern now leads a peaceful life as a citrus and cattle farmer and bronze artist, having left Hollywood.

He emphasized that his creative process, whether in acting or painting, continues after a piece is over.

"Once I've finished with them, they're not dead... He said that they were finished creatively. "I need to get to the next one." My mind is completely focused on the next item I'm creating."

Stern discussed his relationship with his earlier work and his approach to filmmaking.

"When the movie came out a year ago, it was fantastic, but I don't want to go back. I did it. I shot it. I know it. The writing was good. That was the way the situation played out. And I'll see it once and say, yes, that was excellent... "I just move forward."

Stern also discussed his choice to move away from the spotlight, which he called "overwhelming." Moving to a ranch and adopting a gentler lifestyle became his method of escaping the high-profile aspect of celebrity.

"I made enough money that I didn't have to work," he explained.

"I make enough money, and I'm really thrifty... I bought the house with cash. I purchased the vehicles in cash. I bought everything right away since, being an artist, I never knew if I'd be able to create more bread."

Stern acknowledged his wife for advising him on when it was time to put his personal aspirations above his professional pursuits.

"I asked my wife, 'How much money do I need to [store] in the bank so that we can live off of the interest and I don't have to work?' She said, 'We hit it.' That was like, 'Okay, Dan, now you'll put your money where your mouth is.'"

With his shift from Hollywood to a life centered on farming and art, Stern remains a nostalgic figure for Home Alone fans, even as he focuses his talent into new projects away from the spotlight.