Introduction
Kieran Kyle Culkin (born September 30, 1982) is an American actor. The brother of actors Macaulay and Rory Culkin, he began his career as a child actor in the films Father of the Bride (1991), 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 his first Golden Globe Award, as well as winning a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a Satellite Award. He later appeared in the films Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), Wiener-Dog (2016), and No Sudden Move (2021).
Since 2018, Culkin has starred as Roman Roy in the HBO television series Succession, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and two consecutive Golden Globe Awards.
Early life
Culkin was born in New York City, to Patricia Brentrup and Kit Culkin, a former stage actor who had appeared on Broadway. He has six siblings—Shane, Dakota, Macaulay, Quinn, Christian and Rory —all of whom were raised as performers. In September 1995, Culkin's parents separated, and he has been estranged from his father ever since.
Career
Culkin's first film role was a small part alongside his brother Macaulay in Home Alone, as cousin Fuller McCallister. He continued acting as a child and teenager, mainly working in comedies, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Father of the Bride, and its sequel, Father of the Bride Part II.
As a teenager, he alternated between lead roles in independent films and small parts in mainstream films. He appeared in the Academy Award-nominated movie Music of the Heart, played the title role in the film Igby Goes Down, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and played the lead role in The Mighty as Kevin Dillon.
He is one of the ensemble main cast members in the HBO series Succession. In 2018, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film for his role as Roman Roy on the show.
Personal life
Culkin married Jazz Charton on June 8, 2013. They have two children: a daughter named Kinsey Sioux born September 13, 2019 and a son named Wilder Wolf born August 17, 2021.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Home Alone | Fuller McCallister | |
| 1991 | Only the Lonely | Patrick Muldoon Jr. | |
| Father of the Bride | Matty Banks | Nominated —Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Motion Picture | |
| 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 | Matty Banks | |
| 1996 | Amanda | Biddle Farnsworth | |
| 1998 | The Mighty | Kevin Dillon | Nominated —Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor |
| 1999 | She's All That | Simon Boggs | |
| Music of the Heart | Alexi Tzavaras | ||
| The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns | Barney O'Grady | ||
| The Cider House Rules | Buster | Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | |
| 2002 | The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys | Tim Sullivan | |
| Igby Goes Down | Jason "Igby" Slocumb, Jr. | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Performer Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Youth in Film Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance | |
| 2008 | Lymelife | Jimmy Bartlett | |
| 2009 | Paper Man | Christopher | |
| 2010 | Scott Pilgrim vs. the World | Wallace Wells | Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble |
| 2011 | Margaret | Paul Hirsch | |
| 2013 | Movie 43 | Neil | Segment: "Veronica" Nominated — Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo |
| 2015 | Quitters | Mr. Becker | |
| 2016 | Wiener-Dog | Brandon McCarthy | |
| 2017 | Infinity Baby | Ben | |
| 2020 | Father of the Bride, Part 3(ish) | Matty Banks | Short film |
| 2021 | No Sudden Move | Charley |
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–present | Succession | Roman Roy | Main role Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series |
| 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" |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Moment When | Wilson | Playwrights Horizons, New York |
| 2003 | This Is Our Youth | Warren Straub | Garrick Theatre, London |
| 2004 | After Ashley | Justin Hammond | Vineyard Theatre, New York Obie Award for Performance |
| 2007 | subUrbia | Buff | Second Stage Theatre, New York |
| 2012 | This Is Our Youth | Dennis Ziegler | Sydney Opera House, Sydney |
| 2014 | This Is Our Youth | Dennis Ziegler | Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago |
| 2014 | This Is Our Youth | Dennis Ziegler | Cort Theatre, New York |