One ‘Home Alone 2’ Stunt Caused Joe Pesci A Real, Serious Injury

The Wet Bandits, the Sticky Bandits, whatever their moniker, this nefarious duo was always making trouble for Home Alone‘s Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin. Fortunately, Kevin could be very effective with his traps to stop these bumbling bandits, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. Maybe a little too effective. While filming, Pesci actually suffered a real injury while filming Home Alone 2.

Released in 1992, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York sees Kevin once again separated from his family as they embark on their holiday vacation. But what starts as a merry mishap soon turns into a frantic festive fight to protect a toy store from Harry and Marv. Fortunately, even when lost in New York, Kevin knows how to set more than a few mean traps – including one that put Pesci at real risk.

Joe Pescie sustained a real injury filming ‘Home Alone 2’

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of Home Alone 2. In celebration, Pesci spoke with PEOPLE about his filming experience, including the injury he suffered in solidary with his on-screen counterpart, Harry.

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“In addition to the expected bumps, bruises, and general pains that you would associate with that particular type of physical humor,” Pesci began, “I did sustain serious burns to the top of my head during the scene where Harry’s hat is set on fire.”

The traps Kevin set for the Wet Bandits varied in their intensity and the targeted areas of the body. For instance, Marv has more than a few bricks thrown at his skull. Both of them had a heavy – and very full – metal shelf slammed into them. Giving due credit, Pesci assured, “I was fortunate enough to have professional stuntmen do the real heavy stunts.”

Getting into and staying in character

The physically heavy stuff may have been covered by a stunt expert. But stuff like the fiery head trick was all Pesci, which meant it was really his head that was burned.

He got back at his young co-star, in a sense. Around the same time the outrageous Christmas classic was released, Pesci also had a prominent role in the gritty, mature gangster film Goodfellas alongside Ray Liotta. His reputation preceded Pesci and Culkin would end up feeling a bit afraid of Pesci while filming on set.

It didn’t help that Pesci, who generally favored mob movies, didn’t have a history of working with child actors, promoting more potential for distance between the on-screen rivals. But he was so charmed by the script, Pesci couldn’t say no and “wanted to play it for the kids.” In the end, Pesci proved himself excellent when it came to working alongside child actors. He did, however, avoid Culkin for a time to maintain an air of sinister mystery between them, to great effect.

Perhaps too great an effect.