What Happened to Your Favorite Christmas Film Stars from Awards to Arrests

At Christmas there are a number of festive films that viewers return to time and again, such as Home Alone, Elf and Die Hard.

But, while these films are classics, some viewers may not know what has happened to the cast since their starring role in their respective Christmas films.

With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about the stars of your favorite Christmas films.

What Happened to the Cast of 'Home Alone'?

Macaulay Culkin will always be associated with his iconic role as Kevin McAllister in Home Alone and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

The actor is one of the most successful child actors of all time, and after many successful years as a child star, he took a break from acting. This hiatus lasted from 1994 to 2003, at which point he starred in Will & Grace and Party Monster, he most recently starred in American Horror Story: Double Feature in 2021.

While filming the horror show the actor welcomed his first child with wife Brenda Song, a son named Dakota Song Culkin. In 2021, the actor's co-star Leslie Grossman told Newsweek that the actor was "so excited" about welcoming his first child at the time.

Grossman said: "His partner Brenda Song was pregnant when we started, and actually gave birth while we were filming, and he was just so focused on that. He's so in love with her and [was] so excited about the birth of their child.

"He was with her when she gave birth, but then he had to work two days later and [he] brought cigars for everyone and was the proudest dad, and so in love with her, and so excited about this new chapter in his life."

Cast members like Catherine O'Hara, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern have continued acting, for example O'Hara appeared in Schitt's Creek as Moira Rose from 2015 to 2020 and the role earned her an Emmy Award and Golden Globe amongst other accolades.

Meanwhile Hillary Wolf Saba, who portrayed Kevin's sister Megan, has retired from acting and she went on to have a successful athletic career. She competed in judo at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics, where she represented the United States.

In December 2021, Devin Ratray, who played Buzz in the Home Alone franchise, was arrested in Oklahoma for alleged domestic assault and battery of his then-girlfriend, per E! News. He denied the allegations and was released on $25,000 bond within 15 minutes of his mugshot being taken, according to a report from TMZ at the time.

Ratray is being investigated for allegedly raping a woman named Lisa Smith in 2017, according to a report from CNN in August 2022. Ratray has denied these allegations.

Where Are the Cast of 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' Now?

How The Grinch Stole Christmas is another classic Christmas movie which adapts Dr. Seuss's iconic book, and it starred Jim Carrey in the title role.

Carrey has, of course, continued to have a prolific acting career since making The Grinch in 2000, and his hit films since making the Christmas film include The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Bruce Almighty, and the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

Taylor Momsen, who played Cindy Lou Who, went on to star in the original Gossip Girl series before she swapped acting for music and founded rock band The Pretty Reckless in 2009.

Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon, Bill Irwin and Jeffrey Tambor have all continued to act following their roles in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, with Baranski most recently starring in The Good Fight which ended with its sixth season on November 10.

Where Are the Cast of 'Die Hard' Now?

Die Hard is one of those movies whose place as a Christmas film is constantly contested but is still seen as a festive favorite.

The film saw Bruce Willis play John McClane, an NYPD detective who has to fight his way through Nakatomi Plaza tower when it is taken over by villain Hans Gruber (played by Alan Rickman) on Christmas Eve.

Willis has had a hugely successful career as an actor, both before and after the 1988 film, and he has starred in the likes of Armageddon, Sin City and Pulp Fiction to name just a few. In March 2022, Willis' family announced that he would be retiring from acting after he was diagnosed with aphasia.

After Die Hard, Rickman starred in many iconic films including fellow festive film Love Actually and the Harry Potter franchise, in which he played Severus Snape. The actor died of pancreatic cancer on January 14, 2016, at the age of 69.

Clarence Gilyard Jr., who played tech specialist Theo in the film, died at the age of 66, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas announced on November 28.

Reginald VelJohnson starred in Die Hard as LAPD sergeant Al Powell, and he went on to appear in the sitcom Family Matters from 1989 to 1998, and he has also done voice work in shows like Prime Video's Invincible.