Daniel Stern Says ‘Stepping Away’ from Hollywood Led to ‘Living My Real Life’ (Exclusive) [Video]

Daniel Stern has traded in his former Home Alone Wet Bandit identity for something much more befitting of his life today: “Citrus Bandit.”

The actor-turned-writer, sculptor, farmer and philanthropist tells PEOPLE that it’s “overwhelming” how much support he has seen on both TikTok and Instagram as of late as fans have discovered that he now lives a peaceful existence on his California ranch — purchased with the money he saved from his time in Hollywood — growing tangerines and creating passion project art that he describes as an “extension of the human condition.”

“What I love about social media is you can tell your story,” Stern, 67, shares of the recent influx of new and old fans alike to his pages, “and it feels good to tell it. And sort of that’s the final step of any artistic creation is giving it to an audience. So it’s a wonderful world, and I’m so tickled people have discovered some of …