If you are lucky enough to own the Home Alone house, you might get to ask for an unexpected request of one of the Wet Bandits, Daniel Stern. Daniel Stern, the American actor immortalized as Marv Merchants in Home Alone and its New York sequel, has endured pratfalls and paint cans alike. Years later, he disclosed the homeowners’ startlingly earnest appeal.

The Home Alone house owners surprised Daniel Stern with a unique commission: a bronze sculpture of himself and the tarantula from the film’s famous scream scene. Stern, the American actor immortalized as Marv Merchants, embraced the unusual yet nostalgic request, according to PEOPLE.

"I got a call from the people who own the Home Alone house," Stern explained. "And I am a sculptor, and they asked if I would do a sculpture for the house." The blend of real estate enthusiasm and cinematic history could not be more delightful.

The request reflected the homeowners’ passion for the film and their residence, which has now become a beloved tourist attraction. Stern, now a California rancher and artist, humorously noted to PEOPLE that this first self-portrait presents him more attractive than reality, capturing whimsy alongside homage.

Furthermore, Stern envisioned the sculpture to be displayed in the Home Alone house, perhaps with a ceremonial unveiling. Find the project fun, he emphasized that immortalizing both actor and spider honors the enduring magic of the movie and its iconic scenes.

The unexpected request from the iconic movie's house owners brought to light the life of Daniel Stern.

Daniel Stern's life after Home Alone success

After the massive success of Home Alone, Daniel Stern significantly shifted his focus from Hollywood to a more private life as an artist and farmer as he revealed to PEOPE in a previous interview. He embraced rural living, balancing his creative pursuits with the demands of managing a cattle ranch and citrus groves in Ventura County, California.

Stern, alongside his wife Laure Mattos, often describes himself as a homebody and spends his days growing tangerines, lemons, and avocados. He humorously calls himself the' Citrus Bandit' on social media, sharing videos of his harvest and juicing process with thousands of followers.

Over the last twenty-five years, Daniel Stern has become a distinguished bronze sculptor. His works, including Running Girl and Dancer on a Chair, often capture frozen moments of life. Not to forget, he has completed public art installations across Southern California in Agoura Hills, San Diego, Pasadena, and Temple City.

Despite stepping back from major Hollywood productions, Daniel Stern has continued selective acting and directing. He appeared in TV series such as Shrill, Manhattan, and For All Mankind, published his memoir Home and Alone in 2024, and is slated to direct and star in a film adaptation of his own play, Everything's Peachy.

What do you think of the house owners' unexpected request? Let us know if you would do the same in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui