Kieran Culkin

Kieran Kyle Culkin is an American actor recognized for portraying complex, often distasteful yet sympathetic characters across theater, television, and film. He has earned major industry honors over his career, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. After beginning his career as a child performer, he established himself as a prominent dramatic and comedic actor.

Born on September 30, 1982, in New York City, Culkin was the fourth of seven children born to Christopher Culkin, a former stage actor, and Patricia Brentrup, who worked as a traffic controller and telephone operator. Raised in a crowded Yorkville apartment, he faced financial hardship as a child and attended a local Catholic school before studying at the Professional Children's School. Following his parents' separation in 1995, his mother was awarded sole custody of the children, and Culkin remained close with her while becoming estranged from his father.

Culkin began performing at age two and made his feature film debut at age seven as Fuller McCallister in the Christmas comedy Home Alone (1990), appearing alongside his older brother Macaulay. He reprised the role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) and continued acting throughout his youth in films such as Father of the Bride (1991), The Mighty (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999). His major breakthrough arrived with his lead performance as a sardonic teenager in the 2002 comedy-drama Igby Goes Down, which earned him a Critics' Choice Movie Award and his first Golden Globe nomination.

Overwhelmed by early success, Culkin stepped away from major screen roles to evaluate his passion for acting, turning his focus primarily to the stage. During his screen hiatus, he starred in Kenneth Lonergan's play This Is Our Youth in both London's West End and on Broadway, and he won an Obie Award for his role in After Ashley (2005). He gradually returned to cinema with projects like Lymelife (2008) and gained further attention playing Wallace Wells in the action comedy Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010).

Culkin achieved widespread mainstream resurgence with his portrayal of Roman Roy in the HBO drama series Succession from 2018 to 2023. His performance across the show brought critical acclaim and numerous honors, including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe Award. Following the show's conclusion, Culkin starred as a grief-stricken drifter in the 2024 buddy comedy A Real Pain, winning the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In addition to his live-action film work, Culkin has expanded into voice acting, contributing to the animated series Solar Opposites and reprising his film role in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023). On stage, he played Richard Roma in a 2025 Broadway revival of Glengarry Glen Ross. His upcoming projects include voice roles in an animated film adaptation of Animal Farm and in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.