Share and Follow
British actor Tim Curry, renowned for his roles in classics like “Clue” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” where he famously portrayed Dr. Frank-N-Furter, had an unexpected encounter during the filming of “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” The film, released in 1992, brought Curry face-to-face with Ivana Trump, the first wife of Donald Trump.
20th Century Fox
In “Home Alone 2,” Curry played the concierge of the Plaza Hotel, a property owned by Donald Trump at the time. The cast was required to live at the hotel during production, which is where Curry’s path crossed with Ivana Trump. Ivana, who passed away in 2022 at age 73, managed the Plaza and had recently led its renovation. During one of her inspections, she inquired about Curry’s satisfaction with his accommodations.
Recalling the encounter in an interview with The Guardian while discussing his memoir, “Vagabond,” Curry shared, “She knocked on my door and asked, ‘Are you happy in your room? Do you like the way it looks?’” Although courteous, Curry admitted, “I loathed it actually,” revealing his distaste for Ivana’s extravagant decorating style.
During the film’s production, Curry also encountered Donald Trump, who made a brief cameo, offering directions to the character Kevin McCallister, played by Macauley Culkin. Trump, at that time a prominent real estate mogul, was eager to introduce his then-girlfriend, Marla Maples, to the film’s director, Chris Columbus. Curry recalled, “He said: ‘I’ve got to get Marla to meet Chris Columbus because she’s a brilliant actress,’” though he was skeptical, thinking, “Yeah, I’m sure.”
While “Home Alone 2” is remembered fondly by many, its association with Trump has drawn increased attention since his presidency. Director Chris Columbus has claimed that Trump maneuvered his way into the film’s cameo role, a claim Trump has disputed. This unexpected layer of controversy was hardly foreseen when the sequel was released over three decades ago.
Curry also ran into Donald Trump on set
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
Curry also ran into Ivana’s ex, Donald Trump, while shooting the film. Although Trump had a brief cameo in the film in which he gives directions to Kevin McCallister (Macauley Culkin), he told Curry it was his girlfriend at the time, Marla Maples, who was the real talent. Curry remembered, “[Trump] 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.’” Curry didn’t quite believe him though, adding, “And I thought: ‘Yeah, I’m sure.’”
Trump was just a New York City real estate mogul at the time, but since his election as president of the United States, “Home Alone 2” has come under more scrutiny than anyone would have predicted over 30 years ago. Columbus has since said that Trump bullied his way into the movie, claims that Trump has fired back at.
As a result, Columbus is not happy that Trump’s in the film. In a recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Columbus said of the cameo, “Years later, it’s become this curse. It’s become this thing that I wish it was not there … I just wish it was gone.” Still, “Home Alone 2” was a hit, making $359 million, and both Curry and Columbus went on to further success at the box office — while Trump moved on to higher office altogether.