Daniel Stern, the actor forever etched into pop culture memory as Marv, one of the bumbling "Wet Bandits" in the beloved Home Alone franchise, has found himself making headlines for reasons far removed from booby traps and slapstick holiday hijinks. According to police documents obtained by TMZ and echoed by multiple outlets, the 68-year-old actor was cited by police in Camarillo, California, for allegedly soliciting prostitution on December 10, 2025. The incident took place at a hotel in the city, which sits about an hour northwest of Los Angeles and is a far cry from the snowy Chicago suburbs where Stern’s most famous character met his match against young Kevin McCallister.
Law enforcement sources in Ventura County confirmed that Stern was issued a citation, but was not arrested, booked, or taken into custody. As reported by TMZ, "Daniel was cited for soliciting prostitution on Dec. 10 ... which is smack in the middle of the Christmas season, when his 'Home Alone' movies typically doing big streaming numbers." Indeed, the timing of the incident—right as Home Alone marathons fill television screens and streaming queues—has added an ironic twist to the story. For many fans, it’s a jarring juxtaposition: the actor who helped define holiday mischief now facing real-life legal trouble during the very season his films are most celebrated.
While the citation itself is a serious matter, it’s important to note that Stern was not formally arrested or booked. No mugshot has surfaced, and as of January 10, 2026, there is no public record of additional charges or a scheduled court appearance. The matter, at least for now, appears to be moving through the legal system as a citation—meaning it could be resolved quietly unless either the authorities or Stern himself decide to take further action. As Hindustan Times reported, "Because Stern was ticketed rather than arrested, the matter will typically proceed through the legal process unless it is dismissed or resolved at an early stage."
Adding another wrinkle to the story, Stern has not made any public statement regarding the allegation. His representatives have not responded to media requests for comment, and outlets such as Parade and TMZ have noted the silence from his camp. This lack of response has left fans and media alike speculating about what, if anything, Stern might say or do next. Will he address the allegations publicly, or will he let the legal process play out behind the scenes?
This isn’t Stern’s first brush with the headlines in recent months. Back in October 2025, he was briefly hospitalized following a medical emergency at a residence in Somis, California, not far from where the solicitation incident allegedly took place. According to TMZ, "he was rushed to the hospital back in October after the Ventura County Fire Department responded to a residence in Somis for a medical emergency." Details about the nature of that emergency remain scarce, but Stern later recovered and, by all accounts, has since returned to his private life.
And private is exactly how Stern seems to prefer things these days. Despite his iconic status as Marv and other notable roles in films like City Slickers, Stern has largely retreated from the Hollywood limelight. In a recent interview with People on December 2, he explained, "I don’t leave my farm. It’s no offense to the movie. I’m just … a phone call, Zoom call, I’m in, but… I’m a bit of a homebody." Stern now lives on a farm, where he grows tangerines, works as a cattle rancher, and has taken up sculpture. He’s also focused on writing and directing, occasionally sharing updates about his art and personal projects on social media. According to Jang, "he has left Hollywood behind...he now lives on a farm and grows tangerines and now works as a cattle rancher, grows tangerines and works as a sculptor."
While Stern has stepped back from frequent acting, he hasn’t disappeared entirely from the profession. He continues to take on occasional projects and media requests, often handling them remotely from his farm. His most recent on-screen appearance came in the Apple TV series For All Mankind, a reminder that, despite his retreat from the industry, he still maintains a connection to the craft that made him a household name. As TMZ noted, "he has not disappeared entirely from the profession...occasional projects and media requests still reach him, and he tends to handle them remotely from the farm."
The timing of this legal episode—coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the original Home Alone film—has not gone unnoticed. The film remains a staple of holiday viewing, and Stern’s character Marv, alongside Joe Pesci’s Harry, continues to elicit laughs from new generations of viewers. Yet, as Parade points out, Stern opted to skip the anniversary events, reinforcing his preference for staying out of the spotlight. The film’s enduring popularity only amplifies the public’s curiosity about Stern’s current predicament.
On the personal front, Stern has been married to Laure Matto since 1980, and the couple share three children, including California State Senator Henry Stern. Despite the recent headlines, Stern’s family life and his work outside of acting have kept him grounded. According to Parade, "he’s focused on writing, directing, and sculpture, occasionally sharing updates about his artwork and personal projects on social media."
As for the legal process, it remains unclear whether the citation will result in formal charges or if the case will be dismissed. No court date has been announced, and authorities have not indicated whether the case is expected to move forward. For now, the citation stands as the only official action taken by law enforcement, and the public is left to wonder whether further details will emerge. As Hindustan Times reported, "As of now, there is no public record of additional charges or a scheduled court appearance."
Fans of Stern—and of the Home Alone films—are left in a state of uncertainty. Will this incident cast a shadow over his legacy as one of cinema’s most memorable comedic villains, or will it fade quietly as just another odd footnote in a long and varied career? For now, all eyes remain on Camarillo, Ventura County, and the next move from the man who once made getting hit with a paint can look like an art form. Whatever happens next, it’s clear that Daniel Stern’s real-life misadventures have taken him on a path no Hollywood script could have predicted.