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Kieran Culkin

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Kieran Culkin
Culkin in 2024
Born
Kieran Kyle Culkin

(1982-09-30) September 30, 1982 (age 42)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present
Spouse
Jazz Charton
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2
FatherKit Culkin
Relatives

Kieran Kyle Culkin (born September 30, 1982) is an American actor. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a National Board of Review Award.

Culkin began his career as a child actor in Home Alone (1990), Father of the Bride (1991), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), The Mighty (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999). He achieved a career breakthrough after starring in the film Igby Goes Down (2002), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He appeared in the films Margaret (2011), Wiener-Dog (2016), and No Sudden Move (2021), and played Wallace Wells in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023).

Culkin garnered renewed mainstream recognition with his portrayal of Roman Roy in the HBO television series Succession (2018–2023), which won him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He has since starred in Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain, which earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.

On stage, he made his Broadway debut in the 24 Hour Plays in 2006. He returned to Broadway in the 2014 revival of Kenneth Lonergan's play This Is Our Youth.

Early life

Kieran Kyle Culkin was born on September 30, 1982, in New York City to Christopher Cornelius "Kit" Culkin, a former Broadway stage actor, and Patricia Brentrup, a native of North Dakota who met Kit in 1974 while working as a road traffic controller in Sundance, Wyoming.[1][2] The couple relocated to Kit's native New York City, and had seven children: Shane (b. 1976), Dakota (1978–2008),[3] Macaulay (b. 1980), Kieran (b. 1982), Quinn (b. 1984), Christian (b. 1987), and Rory (b. 1989).[1] He also had a paternal half-sister, Jennifer (1970–2000).[4] Culkin's paternal aunt is actress Bonnie Bedelia.[5]

Kieran Culkin spent his youth in the Yorkville neighborhood of Manhattan, where he lived with his parents and siblings.[1] During his early childhood, the family struggled financially; his mother worked as a telephone operator, while his father served as a sacristan at a local Catholic church.[1] In September 1995, Culkin's parents separated, and he has been estranged from his father since.[6]

Career

1988–1996: Early beginnings

Culkin's first professional acting gig was through a television commercial based on learning disabilities.[7] He was six years old at the time, and was repeatedly berated by the unnamed director in a failed attempt to make him method act.[8] At age seven, Culkin made his feature film debut as Fuller McCallister in the comedy Home Alone (1990), directed by Chris Columbus.[9] He had "no idea" what the film was about when he attended its premiere,[10] nor did he know that his brother Macaulay starred as his older cousin, Kevin.[11]

Culkin worked with Columbus again on the romantic comedy-drama Only the Lonely and starred as Matthew "Matty" Banks" in Father of the Bride (both 1991).[12][13] For his performance in the latter film, he earned a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actor Co-Starring in a Motion Picture at the 14th Youth in Film Awards.[14] Culkin reprised his role as McCallister in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992),[15] starred in the action film Nowhere to Run (1993),[16] appeared in the comedy My Summer Story (1994),[17] reprised his role as Banks in Father of the Bride Part II (1995),[18] and starred as a farm boy who overcomes his fear of animals in Amanda (1996).[19]

1997–2002: First breakthrough

As he entered adolescence, Culkin alternated between lead roles in independent films and small parts in mainstream films. He earned a nomination for the Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film for his performance in the coming-of-age drama The Mighty (1998).[20][21] The following year, Culkin appeared in Music of the Heart, a biographical film about violinist Roberta Guaspari,[22] the teen comedy She's All That, which grossed over $100 million worldwide against a production budget of $7–10 million,[23] and Lasse Hallström's The Cider House Rules, which grossed over $88 million worldwide.[24] He then made his off-Broadway debut with James Lapine's play The Moment When in 2000,[25] and starred in his first regular role in a television series with the short-lived NBC sitcom Go Fish (2001).[26]

Culkin achieved a career breakthrough for playing the rebellious and sardonic teenager Jason "Igby" Slocumb Jr. in the comedy-drama Igby Goes Down (2002).[27] Film critic Stephen Holden for The New York Times praised his performance, writing that the role was "even richer" than the Catholic schoolboy he portrayed earlier in the year in Peter Care's The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys.[27] For his work in the former, Culkin won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Actor/Actress and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.[28][29]

2003–2017: Hiatus and theatre work

Culkin in 2010

Igby Goes Down was the first gig that profoundly impacted Culkin's personal life.[30] He realized in the midst of the film's success that acting had become his career, which was "terrifying" because he was never granted the decision to pursue it.[31] As he needed time to figure out whether he genuinely wanted to be an actor or not, he took a break from the film and television industries and only focused on the acting jobs that interested him the most.[31]

Culkin mostly gravitated towards theatre during his hiatus, starting with replacement work in Kenneth Lonergan's West End production of This Is Our Youth (2002–2003) at the Garrick Theatre.[32] The "dream play" was the second gig that deeply affected Culkin, as he spent eight years convincing Lonergan to let him play the co-lead role of Warren Straub.[30] He then starred as Justin Hammond in Gina Gionfriddo's After Ashley (2005) at the Vineyard Theatre,[33] which won him an Obie Award for Performance.[34]

In 2006, Culkin starred in Eric Bogosian's off-Broadway revival of SubUrbia,[35] and made his on-Broadway debut at the American Airlines Theatre by appearing in Julia Cho's one-act play First Tree in Antarctica.[36][37] He reunited with Lonergan for The Starry Messenger (2009) at the Acorn Theatre.[38] Culkin then headlined multiple revival runs of This Is Our Youth as Dennis Ziegler for the Sydney Opera House,[39] the Steppenwolf Theatre Company,[40] and the Cort Theatre.[41] Among his sporadic film roles was Wallace Wells in the romantic action-comedy Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and Paul Hirsch in the psychological drama Margaret (2011).[42][43]

2018–present: Succession and second breakthrough

From 2018 to 2023, he was one of the ensemble main cast members in the HBO series Succession, portraying immature and entitled COO Roman Roy. In 2018, 2020, and 2021, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for performance on the show. Culkin's performance on the fourth season of the series received multiple accolades, which include the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama as well as the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, where he was nominated alongside his Succession castmates Jeremy Strong and Brian Cox.

Culkin acted in Jesse Eisenberg's film A Real Pain which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.[44] The comedy-drama revolves around a two cousins reuniting after their grandmother's death and end up going on a Holocaust tour in Poland. Owen Gleiberman of Variety praised Culkin's performance writing, "He’s doing a sensational piece of acting as a compulsive wiseacre addicted to the ways of one-upmanship".[45] His performance earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.[46]

It was announced that Culkin will return to Broadway in the 2025 revival of the David Mamet play Glengarry Glen Ross acting opposite Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr.[47]

Personal life

Culkin first met Jazz Charton, a native of London, at a New York bar in 2011.[48] They eloped on June 22, 2013, in Iowa while they were embarking on a cross-country road trip.[49][50] The couple have two children together: a daughter born in September 2019,[51] and a son born in August 2021.[52]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Home Alone Fuller McCallister
1991 Only the Lonely Patrick Muldoon Jr.
Father of the Bride Matthew "Matty" Banks
1992 Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Fuller McCallister
1993 Nowhere to Run Mike "Mookie" Anderson
1994 My Summer Story Ralph "Ralphie" Parker
1995 Father of the Bride Part II Matthew "Matty" Banks
1996 Amanda Biddle Farnsworth
1998 The Mighty Kevin Dillon
1999 She's All That Simon Boggs
Music of the Heart Alexi Tzavaras
The Cider House Rules Buster
2002 The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys Tim Sullivan
Igby Goes Down Jason "Igby" Slocumb, Jr.
2008 Lymelife Jimmy Bartlett
2009 Paper Man Christopher
2010 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Wallace Wells
2011 Margaret Paul Hirsch
2013 Movie 43 Neil Segment: "Veronica"
2015 Quitters Mr. Becker
2016 Wiener-Dog Brandon McCarthy
2017 Infinity Baby Ben
2020 Father of the Bride, Part 3(ish) Matthew "Matty" Banks Short film
2021 No Sudden Move Charley
2024 A Real Pain Benji Kaplan

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Saturday Night Live Froggy Episode: "Macaulay Culkin / Tin Machine"
1996 Frasier Jimmy (voice) Episode: "The Impossible Dream"
1999 The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns Barney O'Grady 2 episodes
2001 Go Fish Andy "Fish" Troutner Main role
2015 Fargo Rye Gerhardt 2 episodes
Long Live the Royals Peter (voice) 4 episodes
2018–2023 Succession Roman Roy Main role
2020 Robot Chicken Joe Jonas / Nostradamus's Intern (voice) Episode: "Petless M in: Cars Are Couches On The Road"
2021 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Kieran Culkin / Ed Sheeran"
2022 Gaming Wall Street Himself (narrator) Documentary miniseries
The Boys Presents: Diabolical O.D. (voice) Episode: "I'm Your Pusher"
2022–present Solar Opposites Glen Kumstein / Dodge Charger (voice) Main role (season 3–present)
2023 Agent Elvis Gabriel Wolf (voice) Episode: "Godspeed, Drunk Monkey"
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Wallace Wells (voice) Main role[53]
2024 The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy Dr. Plowp (voice) Main role

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2000 The Moment When Wilson Playwrights Horizons, New York [54]
2002–2003 This Is Our Youth Warren Straub Garrick Theatre, London [55]
2005 After Ashley Justin Hammond Vineyard Theatre, New York [56]
2006 subUrbia Buff Second Stage Theatre, New York [57]
First Tree in Antarctica Shawn American Arlines Theatre, New York [36]
[37]
2009 The Starry Messenger Student Acorn Theatre, New York [58]
2012 This Is Our Youth Dennis Ziegler Sydney Opera House, Sydney [59]
2014–2015 Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago [60]
Cort Theatre, New York [61]
2025 Glengarry Glen Ross Richard Roma Palace Theatre, New York [62]

Accolades

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Kieran Culkin

References

  1. ^ a b c d Purgavie, Dermot (November 9, 1996). "The Father from Hell?". The Daily Telegraph. pp. 23–24, 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Abramovitch, Seth (October 6, 2021). "Martinis and Red Meat With Kieran Culkin: The 'Succession' Star on Childhood, Co-Stars and Fame". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  3. ^ Chernikoff, Leah (December 11, 2008). "Macaulay Culkin's sister, Dakota Culkin, dies after being struck by a car". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Gawley, Paige (October 14, 2021). "Kieran Culkin Is 'Game' to Have His Brother Macaulay and Other Siblings on 'Succession' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Bandler, Michael J. (October 25, 1992). "Character Study Despite Her Laurels, Bonnie Bedelia Wonders When Stardom Will Arrive". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  6. ^ Kashner, Sam (November 6, 2018). "How Kieran Culkin Survived Childhood and Made Peace with the Family Profession". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  7. ^ Wang, Jessica (December 23, 2024). "Kieran Culkin says director called him 'idiot' on first acting job at age 6". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 24, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Oganesyan, Natalie (December 23, 2024). "Kieran Culkin Recalls First Professional Gig At 6 Where Director Berated Him To Get Him To Method Act: "What's Wrong With You?"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 24, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  9. ^ Battles, Lisa (December 21, 2024). "Kieran Culkin Reveals His Surprising Home Alone Watching Habits". Parade. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  10. ^ Whipp, Glenn (December 3, 2024). "Opposites attract — and bond — for Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. ^ McArdle, Tommy (December 3, 2024). "Kieran Culkin Explains Why He Had 'No Idea' What Home Alone Was About When He Made the Movie with Brother Macaulay". People. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (May 31, 1991). "Only the Lonely". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  13. ^ Snapes, Laura (December 23, 2024). "'Perfect paternalistic nonsense': why Father of the Bride is my feelgood movie". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
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  19. ^ "Amanda Summary, Latest News, Trailer, Cast, Where to Watch and More". Screen Rant. January 1, 1996. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
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  21. ^ "The 20th Youth in Film Awards". Youth in Film Association. March 6, 1999. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  22. ^ Clinton, Paul (October 28, 1999). "Review: Music of the Heart hits all the right notes". CNN. Archived from the original on April 30, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
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  26. ^ Goodman, Tim (June 19, 2001). "Go Fish is like summer love / New NBC sitcom is too good to last". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
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  28. ^ "The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards 2002". January 17, 2003. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2003.
  29. ^ Hiatt, Brian (December 19, 2002). "Here are the Golden Globe nominations". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  30. ^ a b Stern, Marlow (January 20, 2024). "Kieran Culkin on Life After Succession and Learning to Love Acting". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Lindsay, Benjamin (August 8, 2018). "Kieran Culkin Explains Why Actors Shouldn't Think so Much". Backstage. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
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  33. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (March 1, 2005). "After Ashley with Culkin and Paquin Extends Off-Broadway Through April 3". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  34. ^ Simonson, Robert (May 17, 2005). "Shanley, Hughes, Culkin, Marvel, O'Connell Among 2005 Obie Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  35. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (September 28, 2006). "Bogosian's subUrbia Moves in Off-Broadway with Culkin, Capshaw, Hoffmann". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Broadway 2006". Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2024 – via The 24 Hour Plays.
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  39. ^ Zoglin, Richard (August 28, 2014). "The Kids are Alright in This Is Our Youth". Time. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  40. ^ Oxman, Steven (June 19, 2014). "Chicago Theater Review: This Is Our Youth Starring Michael Cera". Variety. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  41. ^ Stern, Marlow (October 23, 2014). "The Revival of Kieran Culkin: A Reluctant Star Seizes the Spotlight". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  42. ^ Collis, Clark (June 24, 2020). "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: An oral history of Edgar Wright's super-powered cult classic". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  43. ^ Kohn, Eric (October 2, 2011). "REVIEW | Lonergan's Long-Delayed Margaret Flopped at the Box Office, But It Deserves Better". IndieWire. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  44. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  45. ^ "February 9, 2024". January 21, 2024.
  46. ^ "2025 Golden Globes nominations revealed: See the full list of nominees". Entertainment Weekly. December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  47. ^ Paulson, Michael (August 8, 2024). "Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr to Star in Broadway Glengarry". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  48. ^ Kahn, Mattie (September 25, 2024). "Kieran Culkin on Life after Succession, the Joys of Parenting, and his New Movie, A Real Pain". Vogue. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  49. ^ Sternbergh, Adam (August 17, 2018). "48 Minutes With Kieran Culkin". Vulture. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  50. ^ Weiss, Jacqueline (December 6, 2024). "Who Is Kieran Culkin's Wife? All About Jazz Charton". People. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  51. ^ Curto, Justin; Merrett, Robyn (September 18, 2019). "Kieran Culkin & Wife Jazz Charton Welcome Baby Girl Kinsey Sioux: 'We've Never Felt More Complete'". People. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  52. ^ VanHoose, Benjamin (September 17, 2021). "Succession Star Kieran Culkin and Wife Jazz Charton Welcome Baby No. 2". People. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  53. ^ "'Scott Pilgrim' Netflix Anime Series Reunites Film's Cast, from Michael Cera to Chris Evans". March 30, 2023.
  54. ^ Isherwood, Charles (March 27, 2000). "The Moment When". Variety. Archived from the original on December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  55. ^ Billington, Michael (March 18, 2002). "This is Our Youth". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on April 10, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  56. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (March 1, 2005). "After Ashley with Culkin and Paquin Extends Off-Broadway Through April 3". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  57. ^ Brantley, Ben (September 29, 2009). "Bogosian's Youthful Rage and Alienation, Retrofitted for BlackBerries". The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  58. ^ "The Starry Messenger: The New Group announces full cast". New York Theatre Guide. October 19, 2017. Archived from the original on December 24, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  59. ^ James, Erin (February 10, 2012). "This Is Our Youth: Culkin, Cera and Barclay bring NY tale to Opera House". AussieTheatre. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  60. ^ Green, Adam (August 27, 2014). "Kieran Culkin, Tavi Gevinson, and Michael Cera on Starring in This Is Our Youth". Vogue. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  61. ^ Hetrick, Adam (September 11, 2014). "This Is Our Youth, With Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin and Tavi Gevinson, Opens on Broadway Tonight". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  62. ^ Evans, Greg (December 10, 2024). "Glengarry Glen Ross Broadway Revival Sets March Opening Date, Venue". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
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