At a Glance
- Daniel Stern, who played Marv in Home Alone, faces a prostitution-related charge
- The actor was cited at a Camarillo motel in December and formally charged on January 12
- Stern now sculpts and farms in Ventura County after leaving Hollywood
- Why it matters: A beloved childhood star’s legal trouble spotlights the gap between on-screen personas and private lives
Daniel Stern, the lanky burglar fans love to hate as Wet Bandit Marv in the 1990 holiday hit Home Alone, was charged in California with one misdemeanor count of soliciting prostitution on January 12, according to authorities.
The Citation
The incident began December 10 when Ventura County deputies issued a citation at a Camarillo motel, records obtained by News Of Losangeles show. “From what I understand, he was cited at the location and released,” Ventura County District Attorney spokesperson Joey Buttitta said. Prosecutors reviewed the paperwork and filed the single charge Monday; Stern’s arraignment was set for the following day, January 13.
From Blockbuster to Backlot
The 66-year-old actor left Hollywood decades ago and now spends his days sculpting and tending cattle, citrus, and produce on a Ventura ranch with his wife. “I made enough money in the ’80s and ’90s that I didn’t have to work,” Stern told News Of Losangeles in December, adding that success left him “an obligation to take advantage of my good fortune.”
Art Imitates Life
Weeks before the citation, Stern revealed he had been commissioned to recreate the tarantula scene for the new owners of the Illinois Home Alone house. “I’ve made myself a lot handsomer than I actually am,” he joked of the self-portrait, his first. The finished piece is slated for unveiling inside the movie-famous residence.
Silent on the Charge
News Of Losangeles contacted Stern’s representative for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Key Takeaways
- Stern’s charge is a misdemeanor, not a felony
- The case underscores how public figures can face scrutiny long after leaving the spotlight
- His current artistic pursuits contrast sharply with the legal allegation
