‘Home Alone’ Star Daniel Stern Charged in Prostitution Case

Daniel Stern, the actor best known for his role as bumbling burglar Marv in the Home Alone franchise, is facing misdemeanor criminal charges in California. According to the New York Post , court records from the…

Andrew PowellJan 13, 20263 min read

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is classified as a misdemeanor. If convicted, Stern could face penalties of up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $1,000.

Stern rose to fame in the early 1990s after portraying Marv Merchants — one half of the infamous “Wet Bandits” — opposite Joe Pesci and Macaulay Culkin in the original 1990 Home Alone film and its 1992 sequel. The movies became holiday staples and cemented Stern’s place in pop culture.

The legal issue comes after a health scare late last year. In October 2025, Stern was hospitalized following a medical emergency at a residence in Somis, California.

TMZ reported that firefighters evaluated him at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital. After his release, a representative said the actor was “now doing well.”

Stern has largely stepped away from Hollywood in recent decades. He has been married to his wife, Laure Mattos, since 1980, and the couple share three children: daughters Ella, 36, and Sophie, 40, and son Henry, 43, who currently serves as a California state senator.

The family relocated to a ranch in California, seeking a quieter life far removed from the entertainment industry.

“I made enough money that I didn’t have to work,” Stern told People in 2024. “I made enough money and I’m kind of frugal … I bought the house in cash. I bought the cars in cash. I bought everything straight up because as an artist, I never knew if going to make any more bread.”

He added that leaving Hollywood was a deliberate choice driven by a desire for privacy and simplicity.

“At this point … I love being in nature. I love being away,” Stern said. “I love my solitude and I love being able to focus on what I’m making. So the farm world is a great place for me.”