Home Alone 2 Behind the Scenes: Tim Curry Opens Up About Lying to Donald Trump’s Ex
Picture this: You’re staying at one of New York’s most luxurious hotels, filming a beloved Christmas movie, and the hotel president knocks on your door asking if you like the décor. What do you do when you absolutely hate it? If you’re Tim Curry, you lie through your teeth – even if that person happens to be Donald Trump’s ex-wife.
The 79-year-old British actor recently spilled some delicious behind-the-scenes tea about his experience filming “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” back in 1992, and let’s just say the Plaza Hotel wasn’t exactly his cup of tea.
The Plaza Hotel Predicament
During a candid interview with The Guardian, Curry revealed a moment that perfectly captures the awkwardness of Hollywood politeness. As the Plaza Hotel concierge in Home Alone 2, Curry was essentially living where he worked – the cast and crew stayed at the iconic hotel during filming.
But here’s where things get interesting. Ivana Trump, who was the Plaza’s president at the time (and Donald Trump’s ex-wife), apparently took great pride in her interior design choices. So much so that she personally visited cast members to get their opinions.
“She knocked on my door and said, ‘Are you happy in your room? Do you like the way it looks?’ And I loathed it actually,” Curry confessed, speaking to The Guardian.
Of course, what did he tell her? Absolutely nothing close to the truth.
When Hollywood Meets Trump Drama
The “Home Alone 2” filming experience was apparently full of Trump family dynamics that would make even the most seasoned soap opera writer jealous. Curry also recalled how Donald Trump was desperately trying to play matchmaker between director Chris Columbus and his then-girlfriend Marla Maples.
In the same interview, he remembered, “He was very anxious to find Chris Columbus, the director. He said, ‘I’ve got to get Marla to meet Chris Columbus because she’s a brilliant actress.’ And I thought: ‘Yeah, I’m sure.'”
The sarcasm practically drips off the page, doesn’t it?
The Cameo That Became a Curse
Speaking of Trump’s involvement in “Home Alone 2,” the president’s brief cameo has become something of a hot potato for director Chris Columbus. Earlier this year, Columbus admitted to the San Francisco Chronicle that Trump’s appearance has “become this curse. It’s become an albatross for me. I just wish it was gone.”
The backstory is even more fascinating. Columbus claims that Trump essentially strong-armed his way into the film by making his cameo a condition for using the Plaza Hotel. “We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie,'” Columbus revealed to the Business Insider.
But Trump? He tells a completely different story, naturally.
The Battle of the Home Alone 2 Narratives
In typical Trump fashion, the president has disputed Columbus’s version of events, claiming the filmmakers were actually “begging” for his cameo. Writing on Truth Social, Trump insisted: “I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent.”
He continued with his usual flair: “That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired.”
Trump then posed the question that probably keeps Columbus up at night: “If they felt bullied, or didn’t want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there, for over 30 years? Because I was, and still am, great for the movie, that’s why!”
The Human Side of Hollywood
What makes Curry’s story so endearing is its fundamental humanity. Here’s a seasoned actor, faced with an awkward social situation, who chose kindness over honesty. It’s the kind of white lie we’ve all told. The difference being that most of us aren’t lying to the ex-wife of a future president while filming a Christmas classic.
The anecdote also reveals something touching about the filmmaking process. Despite all the glamour and prestige, “Home Alone 2” was still just a group of people trying to make a movie work, dealing with the same social dynamics and uncomfortable moments that happen in any workplace.
“Home Alone 2”: More Than Just a Christmas Movie
These behind-the-scenes revelations add another layer to “Home Alone 2’s” legacy. The film, which follows young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) as he navigates New York City solo, has become a holiday tradition for millions of families. But knowing about Curry’s diplomatic fibbing and the ongoing drama surrounding Trump’s cameo makes rewatching the film feel like uncovering hidden Easter eggs.
It’s fascinating how a simple Christmas movie can become entangled with real estate moguls, interior design critiques, and Hollywood politics. The Plaza Hotel scenes in “Home Alone 2” now carry extra weight – every shot potentially representing a compromise, a negotiation, or in Curry’s case, a polite lie.
The Art of Professional Diplomacy
Curry’s decision to lie about the hotel room décor speaks to a larger truth about the entertainment industry. Sometimes, keeping the peace is more valuable than brutal honesty. His white lie probably saved everyone involved from an awkward confrontation and helped ensure the filming process went smoothly.
As viewers continue to enjoy “Home Alone 2” during their holiday celebrations, Curry’s revelation adds a humanizing element to the movie magic. Behind every perfect scene and polished performance, there are real people making difficult social decisions and navigating complex relationships.
The next time you watch Kevin McCallister charm his way into the Plaza Hotel, remember that Tim Curry was probably in his room, hating the décor but smiling politely about it. Sometimes, that’s what makes Hollywood work – and what makes for the best stories years later.
