Patricia Brentrup won custody of her children after separating from her ex-husband, Kit Culkin, who she alleged was abusive, an alcoholic, and unfaithful. The victory came after years of a bittersweet family life; however, it was followed by another tragedy.
Patricia Brentrup's life as the Culkin matriarch was full of ups and downs. She raised seven children alongside her ex-husband, Kit Culkin – whom she never legally married – all of whom grew up with some acting experience. Among them are former child actors Kieran and Macaulay Culkin.
Despite a tumultuous relationship, Brentrup and Culkin managed their kids' careers. They became a high-profile family, with the kids bringing millions of dollars into their home from their acting jobs. However, this also subjected their name to harsh media scrutiny and misconstrued stories.
Kit Culkin, Macaulay Culkin, and Patricia Brentrup pose for a photo in their hotel room on December 11, 1990, in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
Such was the price of being parents of child stars; eventually, their Hollywood status tore their family apart, and the weight of the fame destroyed Macaulay's first marriage. Still, Brentrup maintained a strong bond with her kids, who all preferred to stay with her after she and Culkin separated.
Brentrup instilled many family values in Macaulay and his siblings, and even outsiders saw those values reflected in their upbringing. Although they were a wealthy family, raised mostly within a tiny apartment, the chaos that ensued in that home was "utterly unreflective" of their affluence.
When Brentrup and Culkin separated, the custody battle over their kids took years to finalize, but eventually, Brentrup won. Culkin had frequently abandoned his family, but his children never asked for him when he did. Everything was better for the Culkin kids when only their mom was around.
Patricia Brentrup, mother of child actor Macauley Culkin, leaves Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan after winning custody battle against ex-husband on April 1, 1997 | Source: Getty Images
Patricia Brentrup Raised 7 Kids in a Chaotic Household but Maintained Strong Family Values
Brentrup and Culkin met in Sundance, Wyoming, in 1974. Culkin had also been an actor but quit after his mother passed away. He and Brentrup moved to New York City and settled in the Yorkville neighborhood, where they welcomed two daughters, Dakota and Quinn, and five sons, Shane, Macaulay, Kieran, Christian, and Rory.
They all lived in a one-bedroom apartment with no separating doors other than one for their bathroom. During a 2018 Vanity Fair interview, Kieran said it was "barely suitable for a couple," let alone a family of nine. And yet, he added:
"They raised seven kids in that apartment—-for years! They just kept bringing babies into this little space."
Macaulay Culkin (L) is photographed with his younger brother, Kieran Culkin, circa 1990 | Source: Getty Images
And the presence of seven children in such a small living space was chaotic. Kieran recalled how only some of his siblings would go to school while the others stayed home. He also remembered how he used to watch and imitate wrestling matches with his brothers, as he recounted:
"We used to watch wrestling. I remember watching Macho Man versus Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake, and then me, Shane, and Mac would imitate those matches."
Still, Brentrup – described as a "sweet-natured" woman – treasured time with her kids. She instilled the importance of bonding through things like family meals, lighting a Christmas tree, and enjoying Thanksgiving together.
Those traditions and family values mattered to Brentrup, and she ensured they mattered to her children too. It's what held them together as a unit. However, Kieran and the rest of his siblings didn't hold such warm sentiments for their dad.
Macaulay Culkin and father Kit Culkin attend 17th Annual People's Choice Awards on March 11, 1993, at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
Patricia Brentrup Fought for Custody of Her Kids Who Didn't Want to Stay with Their Dad
Brentrup and Culkin had been "married" for over 20 years when they separated in 1995. It wasn't the first time the former couple put a pause on their relationship, as Culkin reportedly had a habit of abandoning his family, as Kieran recalled:
"Some time in the '90s, he went away for two, three weeks, and the babysitter remarked to my mom, 'You know what’s funny is their father's been gone for three weeks and not one of them has said, 'Hey, where's dad?'"
Kieran said nobody cared that Culkin wasn't around. He remarked that Brentrup had always been "the parent" in their home, and it was "nicer and better" when Culkin wasn't around. By the time he'd reached his mid-teens, the father of seven wasn't all that present in Kieran's life.
Kieran Culkin and Kit Culkin are pictured at Three Olives presents "Pineapple Express" screening arrivals and after-party at AMC Loews and Tenjune NYC on August 5, 2008 | Source: Getty Images
Macaulay's relationship with his dad was bittersweet, as revealed in his 2006 memoir "Junior." There were fond memories he shared with Culkin chronicled in the book, but the actor also acknowledged how his father's hurtful actions. Macaulay said Culkin taught him "what it was like to be afraid."
Since Brentrup and Culkin's union hadn't been legalized, their court case centered mostly around their kids' custody and who would be in charge of handling their finances. At the time, Brentrup managed her children's careers.
She accused Culkin of being physically abusive, an alcoholic, and unfaithful in their relationship. The legal battle stretched for two years, partially because of another contentious issue that led to Culkin disowning arguably his most famous son: Macaulay's trust fund.
Patricia Brentrup Ended Up Being Left Out of Son Macaulay's Trust
Macaulay legally removed his parents' names from his trust fund, which stood between $15 million and $20 million at the time. He found an executor who would run his financial affairs.
However, when news of his decision broke, media outlets misconstrued the story, saying he "emancipated" himself from Brentrup and Culkin. Macaulay later explained that he thought he was doing it "cleanly" by removing his parents' control and said his decision accelerated the legal battle's end.
Patricia Brentrup and her youngest son Rory Culkin are pictured walking on the set of the film "Smack In The Kisser" on March 25, 2002, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Patricia Brentrup's Personal Issues Continued until She Eventually Found Herself a Better Life
Although her life with Culkin ended, more troubles ensued for Brentrup before she found peace again. In 1998, a fire started in her apartment that killed four people. It immediately made the news, and although all she did was turn the radiator on, Brentrup was sued for $80 million in damages.
Macaulay had been married to Rachel Miner then – now reportedly engaged to fellow actress Brenda Song – and some of his siblings still lived with his mom. The tragedy had occurred a few days before Christmas, so he and his now ex-wife took them in and enjoyed the holiday together.
Brentrup maintained a good relationship with her kids. Kieran described her as a "wonderful woman" from whom he learned much. She also found new love with an unknown man, married, and relocated to Billings, Montana, after 30 years of living in New York.
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