Home Alone star faces gruelling surgery to remove cancer-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Ken Hudson Campbell appeared in 1990 festive classic Home Alone (Picture: 20th Century Studios)

Home Alone actor Ken Hudson Campbell, 61, has been diagnosed with cancer, with his family launching a fundraiser to try and help cover the ‘huge’ costs.

Campbell, who has also featured in films including Armageddon and Groundhog Dog, appeared as the famously wise-cracking Santa in 1990’s Home Alone opposite Macaulay Culkin.

He was diagnosed with cancer on October 27 after doctors found a tumour that had ‘elusively grown on the bottom of his mouth and it began encroaching on his teeth’.

The statement on the star’s GoFundMe page explained that he is set to undergo a 10-hour surgery on Thursday (December 7) to remove the tumour, which will also remove a significant part of his jawbone, along with lymph nodes and part of his leg bone – which will then be used to help reconstruct a new jaw.

Campbell is also set to face radiation treatment as well as potentially a course of chemotherapy in what is expected to be a gruelling six-month recovery period.

Unfortunately, he lost his Sag-Aftra health insurance in January 2022, which previously covered him for over three decades of his career, with his family anticipating sky-high additional costs, despite a switch to a new insurer that Campell has ‘great faith in’.

The actor played Santa in a memorable scene with the film’s star Macaulay Culkin (Picture: 20th Century Studios)

His family has revealed Campbell is set to undergo surgery to remove a cancerous tumour (Picture: 20th Century Studios)

Home Alone, which came out over 30 years ago, is one of the post popular Christmas films around (Picture: Moviestore/Rex/Shutterstock)

‘Regardless, he’s looking at a week in the hospital, dealing with a feeding tube, skin grafts, and a tracheotomy, and we are looking at further recovery possibilities like nursing homes. Even though physical therapy and speech therapy are covered, we are anticipating huge out-of-pocket costs for caregivers/skilled nursing, insurance premiums, medical equipment, transportation, dental implants, dentures and who knows what else,’ the statement on his fundraising page said.

‘Our entire immediate family, Kathleen, Richard and Michaela, are planning on taking care of him as much as we can during this long journey,’ it continued.

‘Ken Campbell is a family man. A loving father of two children with an admirable lust for life, and a passion for acting, writing, & sports.’

Campbell lost his Sag-Aftra health insurance in 2022, so his family has set up a fundraising page (Picture: Getty)

It also revealed the possibility that the procedure could ‘affect his ability to work as an actor in the future’.

‘We are asking for your help so that Kenny can use the time ahead to return to health, and spend more time with family & friends,’ it added.

‘Every prayer, positive thought, dollar, or gesture of support means the world to our family.’

The actor’s career also includes extensive voice work and films such as Armageddon (Picture: CBS via Getty Images)

At the time of publication, $65,000 (£51,000) of the $100,000 (£79,500) goal has been pledged.

Campbell made a big splash in festive favourite Home Alone, understood to be his first onscreen credit, in a memorable scene in which Culkin’s Kevin McCallister asks him to take a festive message asking for his family to come back.

The actor’s Santa is contending with a parking ticket after finishing up at his grotto for the day, and rushes to hide the fact he’s been smoking from the youngster.

He then gamely takes Kevin’s ‘extremely important’ message for the ‘real Santa’ (who the eight-year-old claims he knows Campbell’s Santa works for), saying he ‘just wants his family back’ rather than presents.

The Home Alone Santa then sweetly gives Kevin some mints to complete his experience after admitting his elf took the candy canes home to her boyfriend.

Earlier this month, Culkin, now 42, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in which Schitt’s Creek actress Catherine O’Hara reduced him to tears as she paid tribute to her onscreen son from the Home Alone franchise.

The former child star was reduced to tears as Catherine heaped praise on his efforts both on and off screen.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Fans ‘robbed’ as Netflix cancels gripping serial killer film with insanely star-studded cast

MORE : BBC presenter gives the middle finger on air in X-rated live blunder

Entertainment – MetroRead More