Kieran Culkin

Kieran Culkin
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Name:
Kieran Culkin
Real name:
Kieran Kyle Culkin
Who is:
Birth date:
(42 y.o.)
Place of birth:
New York
Height:
5'7 ft ()
Weight:
150 lb (68 kg)
Relationship:
married
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Biography of Kieran Culkin

Kieran Culkin is a Hollywood actor who spent years living in the shadow of his older brother Macaulay, the lead in the Christmas comedy "Home Alone". Kieran also made his debut in that film, playing Kevin's cousin Fuller McCallister, though his character wasn't exactly unforgettable.

As his brother's career cooled off, Kieran—who hadn't faced the same intense pressure from their father that Macaulay did—began scoring bigger roles: "Igby Goes Down", "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World", "Fargo". His breakout performance in HBO's "Succession" (2018-2023) finally earned him the recognition he deserved, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe, and an Emmy.
Kieran Culkin
Kieran Culkin

Childhood, Adolescence, Family

Kieran Kyle Culkin was born in fall 1982 to Christopher Cornelius Culkin and Patricia Brentrup in New York City. His father, an ex-Broadway actor, worked as a church sexton on the Lower East Side, while his mother had gone from traffic controller to telephone operator. Only his paternal aunt, Bonnie Bedelia, was an actress.
Kieran Culkin (far right) with his brothers and sisters
Kieran Culkin (far right) with his brothers and sisters
Though his parents never officially tied the knot, they had seven other children besides Kieran: Macaulay Carson, Shane Arliss, Christian Patrick, Rory Hugh, and two girls – Dakota and Quinn Kay. The eldest sister was killed in a car accident in 2008.

The Culkins lived modestly, with the entire family attending Catholic church and staying devoted to its traditions. Looking back on life in their cramped Manhattan apartment, Kieran recalled:
It was just a hallway with no doors, except for the bathroom, which, admittedly, had no lock. Our parents raised seven kids in that one apartment for so many years! They just kept bringing babies into this tiny space. Mom must have been out of her mind, but she said she was happy back then! To keep the brood busy, she often took us to the American Museum of Natural History, which has everything a child could marvel at – from life-size dinosaur skeletons to a giant model of a blue whale. She'd drop a quarter in the donation box, and we'd disappear for hours.
Like his older brother Mac, Kieran was a natural performer. He was only two years old when his mother took him to a children's theater studio, and soon he was playing a role, albeit a tiny one, on the stage of Manhattan's Symphony Space Theatre.
Kieran Culkin and Macaulay Culkin in childhood
Kieran Culkin and Macaulay Culkin in childhood
While Macaulay commanded attention on stage and won over audiences, the quieter Kieran stayed in his shadow. He attended Saint Joseph's Catholic School before switching to a specialized school for young actors working in film and theater. Later, he took dance lessons at the School of American Ballet.

Film Career

Kieran's film career started when he met screenwriter and director John Hughes, who cast him in the comedy "Home Alone". His older brother Macaulay played the main character, Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left behind by his family during Christmas, while Kieran played a minor character – his annoying cousin Fuller with silly glasses, constantly drinking Coke.
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'Home Alone'
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'Home Alone'
Mac's father became his manager, which would prove devastating to his future acting career. Kieran was actually luckier in this regard: his father pinned all his hopes on Macaulay and basically ignored him. Still, his role in the family Christmas comedy landed Kieran Culkin a part in "Father of the Bride" with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton.
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'Father of the Bride'
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'Father of the Bride'
In the next two films – "Only the Lonely" and "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" – Kieran acted alongside his incredibly popular brother.

Meanwhile, Mac was psychologically burned out from the repetitive roles and his father's relentless pressure, who basically forced him to keep acting just for the money. Their mother backed her son's need for a break and left her husband, claiming he had destroyed Macaulay's career. By then, the actor was worth around twenty million dollars, and his parents started battling for custody of their minor son – mainly for control of his money.
Kieran Culkin with his brother Macaulay in his youth
Kieran Culkin with his brother Macaulay in his youth
Kieran was so disturbed by the court battle and media circus that he wrote to the judge: Your Honor. I ask you, please, to spare my family any further embarrassment by letting the press in the courtroom. It has already been hard on us, and I see no point to it. The request was denied, and the media relentlessly hounded the family, invading their privacy.

Despite the setbacks, Kieran kept acting in films. He worked with Jean-Claude Van Damme on the set of the action film "Nowhere to Run", and in 1996, he played his first leading role in Bobby Roth's drama "Amanda". His character, Biddle Farnsworth, along with his horse named Amanda, gets transported back to medieval times, where he's swept up in a whirlwind of incredible adventures.
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'Nowhere to Run'
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'Nowhere to Run'
This performance got the teen noticed, and two years later came "The Mighty" by Peter Chelsom, featuring a soundtrack by Sting. Culkin played the lead role of disabled prodigy Kevin Dillon, with Sharon Stone as his on-screen mother.
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'The Mighty'
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'The Mighty'
Kieran worked with Meryl Streep in the biographical drama "Music of the Heart" (1998), with Paul Walker in the comedy "She's All That" (1999), and with Charlize Theron and Michael Caine in "The Cider House Rules" (1999). The film won an Oscar, and Kieran finally started getting recognition separate from his older brother's success.
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'The Cider House Rules'
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'The Cider House Rules'
For his lead role as a young man trying to escape his mother's overprotection in the coming-of-age film "Igby Goes Down" (2002), he earned several award nominations, including the MTV Movie Awards for "Breakthrough Performance-2002" and the Golden Globe for "Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy". However, he lost the first to Eminem for "8 Mile" and the second to Richard Gere for "Chicago."
Kieran Culkin in 'Igby Goes Down'
Soon after, Kieran landed key roles in the dramedy "Paper Man" (Christopher), the drama "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" (Tim Sullivan), and the cult comedy "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (Wallace Wells).
Kieran Culkin's Best Moments - Scott Pilgrim vs The World
In 2015, he joined the cast of the crime series "Fargo", and then played leading roles in the film "Wiener-Dog" and the fantasy comedy "Infinity Baby". But Kieran's real breakthrough came with the role of Roman Roy in the satirical series "Succession."
Kieran Culkin in the series 'Succession'
Kieran Culkin in the series 'Succession'
His character – the youngest and most cunning of media mogul Logan Roy's (Brian Cox) children – clearly enters the game for the inheritance throughout the series.
Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy (Succession)
Reflecting on Roman, the actor said that he is very similar to his father and therefore has found his voice:
I don't think Roman is falling behind in this power struggle. His brother and sister are always talking about some kind of game – I think Roman enjoys this game too. And he tries to win. I think he loves his family, though he'd never say it out loud, of course. I believe he has this deep attachment, and when his father gets sick, it really gets to Roman. You could say that's his weakness, the reason he falls behind. But I think that's where his strength lies.
For this role, Culkin was nominated for a Golden Globe for the second time and won the Critics' Choice Television Award in 2022. In 2023, the fourth and final season of "Succession" was released.
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'No Sudden Move'
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'No Sudden Move'
Kieran also starred in Steven Soderbergh's crime thriller "No Sudden Move" (2021). His co-stars were Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro.

Kieran Culkin's Personal Life

In the mid-2000s, Kieran dated Canadian actress Anna Paquin for about a year.
Kieran Culkin and Anna Paquin
Kieran Culkin and Anna Paquin
Later, on the set of "Paper Man" (2009), he met co-star Emma Stone, who played a girl named Abby opposite his character Christopher, her imaginary friend.

They dated for two years and successfully kept the details of their romance private. The couple eventually split amicably. They later reunited on the set of "Movie 43," playing a couple having a heated argument at a grocery store checkout.
Kieran Culkin and Emma Stone
Kieran Culkin and Emma Stone
In 2012, Kieran went to a bar with a friend where he noticed an attractive girl. She was with someone, so Culkin waited until her companion went to the restroom before making his move. Learning her name was Jazz, he joked that it sounded like music. They left the bar together and went for a long walk.
Kieran Culkin and his wife Jazz
Kieran Culkin and his wife Jazz
Two years later, Kieran married Jazz Charton, who works outside the entertainment industry. In 2019, they welcomed a daughter, Kinsey Sioux, and two years later, a son, Wilder Wolf, was born.
Kieran Culkin with his children
Kieran Culkin with his children
The actor reveals a sweet family tradition: every Valentine's Day, he and his wife stay in bed, watch horror movies, and eat donuts.

Kieran Culkin Now

The actor continues to develop his film career. 2024 finally brought him the Golden Globe and Emmy wins he'd been chasing for his role as Roman Roy in "Succession."
Kieran Culkin with an Emmy Award in 2024
Kieran Culkin with an Emmy Award in 2024
During his acceptance speeches, Culkin gushed about his wife from the stage and revealed that Jazz had promised they'd have a third child once he finally snagged an Emmy.
Kieran Culkin on Succession's Final Season
Kieran continues to act in films. In 2023 and 2024, he worked on the drama "Real Pain". Jesse Eisenberg both directed and co-starred alongside Culkin, with Emma Stone and Dave McCary producing the Holocaust drama. The premiere is set to take place at the Sundance Festival.
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'Real Pain'
Kieran Culkin in the movie 'Real Pain'

Interesting Facts

  • From an early age, Kieran Culkin felt sorry for his older brother, even though you'd think he'd be jealous. He thought that kind of fame at such a young age was damaging. "Even when I was a kid, I remember thinking, 'This really sucks for him.' He was so little, and he had to accept that level of fame as his reality," the actor said.

  • After wrapping the second season of "Succession," Culkin took his wife out to lunch and laid out all the major projects he had lined up for the year: "I've just booked this movie and I'm going to go straight from it to the next season, to this play I'm in, to this." Four jobs back-to-back. I thought, 'This is our next year and a half.' I raised my glass, and she said, 'Are you sure? You probably don't want to jinx it. I think we shouldn't celebrate these things until they actually happen.' I said, 'It'll be fun. Everything's falling into place.' A week later: lockdown, no work." Since then, Kieran listens to his wife and only celebrates the good stuff after it's actually happened.

  • Kieran Culkin has a very specific sense of humor. Those who know him well say the actor has this unique mix of boldness and vulnerability, sincerity and sarcasm.

  • Culkin jokingly calls his extensive filmography a "career version" and says it all started with "jerk Fuller" – claiming every role since then is just Fuller McCallister.

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