Macaulay Culkin's sons still do not realise that he played Kevin McCallister in Home Alone - despite them watching it "often"

Macaulay - who said it is a "completely different experience" watching the movie his bundles of joy love - said at the 35th anniversary of the first Home Alone film at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre, as part of his A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin tour: "They have no idea that I'm Kevin.

"They're only three and four years old, [I want] to keep up that illusion as long as possible."

However, Dakota is starting to figure out that his dad played the leading role in the beloved 1990 Christmas film.

The ex-child star recalled a night when he put the four year old to bed, and he quizzed Macaulay on his seven siblings - Shane Culkin, 49, late Dakota, Kieran Culkin, 43, Quinn, 41, Christian, 38, Rory, 36, and his late paternal half-sister, Jennifer Adamson.

Macaulay showed his son an old family photo of his seven siblings, and he remembered Dakota, "immediately looks at me and goes, 'That kid looks like Kevin'".

However, Dakota thinks he is Kevin.

Recalling when Macaulay told his son memorable scenes from the movie - in which Kevin is accidentally left behind when his family leaves for France, and later defends his home from robbers Harry Lime (Joe Pesci) and Marv Murchins (Daniel Stern) - the actor said: "'Do you remember when you kicked burglars out?' And he's like, 'Yep.' 'You slide down the stairs?' 'I sure do.' I was like, 'You liar! That was me.'"

And Macaulay - who also played Kevin in the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York - enjoys watching the original movie with Dakota and Carson, whom he has with his 37-year-old fiancee, actress Brenda Song

He said: "Yeah, I do really love watching that movie with my boys."

Macaulay reprised his iconic character in the Home But Not Alone campaign for Home Instead, a firm that offers in-home care for older adults.

The ad - which honours the original movie's 35th anniversary - sees Kevin protect his mom, Kate McCallister (Catherine O'Hara), from potential dangers in their home.