Jackson and Culkin, Child Stars and Friends

March 29, 2005 — -- Years after his childhood sleepovers, Macaulay Culkin has fondly recalled his childhood trips to Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch.

Now, at 24, Culkin still describes the pop star as a friend who played an important role in his life. And Jackson, now 46, asked the former "Home Alone" star to be the godfather to his two older children.

As childhood stars with rocky relationships with the parents who managed them, they formed a bond that has lasted, even though the age gap raised eyebrows.

"After the 'Home Alone' film came out, I remember I got a call from him. He invited me and my family up to his ranch to meet him," Culkin told ABC News' Barbara Walters in a May 2001 interview on "20/20."

"I think we understand each other in a way that most people can't understand either of us," Culkin said.

On Monday, the judge in Jackson's child molestation trial ruled that the jury can hear allegations that the pop star molested or had designs on five other boys, including Culkin. Also among those boys are two youngsters who reached multimillion-dollar settlements with the singer in the 1990s.

Jackson is on trial for allegedly molesting a now-15-year-old boy who spent time at his Neverland ranch and appeared with him in the 2003 British documentary "Living With Michael Jackson." He has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges that include felony conspiracy with 28 overt acts involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

The judge's ruling could have a devastating effect on Jackson's case, as his attorneys must defend him against allegations that he behaved inappropriately with five other boys, in addition to the alleged victim in his trial. He has never been criminally charged for the other allegations and has denied any wrongdoing.

District Attorney Tom Sneddon said Jackson's inappropriate activities with the other boys included kissing, hugging and inserting his hands into their pants. He also said there was a pattern of "grooming," or preparing the boys for molestation. The alleged incidents involving these other boys are said to have occurred 12 to 15 years ago and never resulted in Jackson facing criminal charges.