Who is the old man in Home Alone?

Last Modified Mar 18, 2025 08:50 EDT
Who is the old man in Home Alone?
Old Man Marley in Home Alone. (Source: Screengrab from the movie)


The old man Marley is Kevin’s neighbour in Home Alone. He was suspected of being the South Bend Shovel Slayer, a serial killer. He is portrayed by Roberts Blossom in Home Alone.


The 1990 American comedy movie Home Alone was written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. In the first part of the Home Alone series, Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old kid, defends his Chicago residence from a home invasion by two thieves after his family accidentally leaves him behind on their Christmas vacation in Paris.


Old Man Marley’s background in Home Alone


Marley and his family lived at 681 Lincoln Avenue. Following his marriage, his son had a daughter, whom Marley adored very much. Marley and his son got into a fierce argument before the McCallisters moved into the house next door, and as a result, the two stopped talking to one another. Marley becomes weird and loses touch with the rest of his family as a result of the separation.


Marley's weirdness created a lot of suspicions about him for a long time. Firstly, Marley was assumed to be a serial killer known as the "South Bend Shovel Slayer" who used a snow shovel to kill half of the residents on the block and his whole family in 1958. However, he escaped arrest due to the lack of evidence. According to the legend, Marley also kept his victims in a steel bucket filled with salt, which he used to make the corpses into mummies.


Old Man Marley and Kevin’s friendship in Home Alone


Who is the old man in Home Alone?
Old man Marley and Kevin. (Source: Screengrab from the movie)


When the robbers Harry and Marv captured Kevin at the Murphys' residence, Marley sensed the situation and sneaked in as Harry was about to bite Kevin's fingers. Just before the police came, Marley used his snow shovel to knock out both of the robbers and drove Kevin home.


Marley and his kid were on good terms by the following morning. Marley watched Kevin from his house's window when he gave his granddaughter and daughter-in-law hugs. After exchanging waves, Marley and his family entered his house.


Who played the old man Marley in Home Alone?


Who is the old man in Home Alone?
Roberts Blossom as old man Marley. (Source: Screengrab from the movie)


Roberts Scott Blossom played the “Old Man” Marley in the movie. He was an American poet and television, movie, and theater actor. His most well-known performances were in the horror movie Deranged (1974) as Ezra Cobb and as Old Man Marley in Home Alone (1990). His cameos in movies like The Great Gatsby (1974), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Escape from Alcatraz (1979), Christine (1983), and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) are equally noteworthy.


Roberts Blossom died at the age of 87. According to reports, he passed away at a Santa Monica nursing home from natural causes.


Read more about Home Alone:



Where was Home Alone filmed

Cast of Home Alone films

Is John Candy in Home Alone


FAQs about the old man in Home Alone

A. The old man Marley is Kevin’s neighbour in Home Alone. He was suspected of being the South Bend Shovel Slayer, a serial killer. 


A. Roberts Blossom died at the age of 87. According to reports, he passed away at a Santa Monica nursing home from natural causes.


A. The old man Marley was rumored to have killed residents in the block and his entire family. This rumor earned him the moniker "South Bend Shovel Slayer.” 


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