'Home Alone' Actor Daniel Stern Says He Was The Original Director Of 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'

Daniel Stern is best known for his acting roles as Marv from Home Alone and Phil in City Slickers and has also worked as a director.

In 1993, Stern directed the film “Rookie of the Year,” about a Little League baseball player who becomes a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. The actor recently announced that after that film he was hired to direct the comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, but he ultimately turned it down.

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“The thing was, when Rookie came out, I got a lot of offers to direct other films. “But it was also the time when I did a sequel to Home Alone and then a sequel to City Slickers,” Stern said in an interview with ComicBook. “Just to put it bluntly, for the only time in my life as an actor, I came across the cash cow and thought, 'I don't think I can get away with my family.' I have to take some of this away.'”

Stern continued, “Then I was the original director of Ace Ventura, and I was on Varsity Blues and had things, but then I got another job.” So I tried to direct something, and I did one Directed a number of television shows that I did one show, “Manhattan,” that I directed. A few years ago it was about the atomic bomb. I thought about directing For All Mankind for a second. No way. I wouldn't be able to go through with it. It's too big. It’s too technical.”

For All Mankind is the Apple TV+ series in which Stern currently plays the role of Eli Hobson, NASA's new administrator.

Stern also directed several episodes of The Wonder Years, where he also narrated and played the adult Kevin Arnold.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was released in 1994 starring Jim Carrey. The film was directed by Tom Shadyac and was a box office success that launched Carrey's film career.

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