In Hollywood and the entertainment industry, the siblings of famous people rarely do as well as them, if both happen to be pursuing the same craft. However,Kieran Culkinhas defied this trend. During his younger years, Kieran (who also started acting as a child) wandered in the shadow of his brother Macaulay Culkin, but he is now the most successful person in the family. Best known for his portrayal of Roman Roy in the HBO drama seriesSuccession, Kieran has collected several trophies in recent years.
In 2024, Kieran also defied another major trend. Most cast members of popular TV shows tend to sink into obscurity after the finale airs, but the actor has continued to wow fans and critics. His performance in the buddy comedy-drama,A Real Pain, earned him plenty of praise, resulting in a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. He is now a serious contender for Best Actor at the upcoming Oscars, but what does his trophy cabinet look like?
Movie/Show
Organization
Igby Goes Down
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Satellite Awards
Best Young Performer
Critics' Choice Awards
Succession
Best Cast in a Television Series
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Awards
Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Satelitte Awards
A Real Pain
Virtuoso Award
SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Best Supporting Actor
Astra Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association
Best Actor
Florida Film Critics Circle
New York Film Critics Circle
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association
San Diego Film Critics Society
Outstanding Male Performance
Newport Beach Film Festival
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Georgia Film Critics Association
Kansas City Film Critics Circle
National Society of Film Critics
Kieran Culkin’s Award-Nominated Projects
‘Igby Goes Down’ (2003)
In 2003, Kieran Culkin got his breakout role viaIgby Goes Down, a comedy-drama abouta misanthropic teenager rebelling against the strictures of his “old money” family. In the film, which also stars Kieran’s younger brother, Rory Culkin, the actorplays a slightly fictionalized version of himself. The family in the movie has a golden child, making the rest of the siblings uncomfortable.
The Rise of a New Culkin
Kieran’s great work inIgby Goes Downmade the world realize that there was another talented Culkin in the family. Consequently, hewon Best Young Performerat the Critics' Choice Awards. Bookmakers had favoredSuperman & Loisstar, Tyler Hoechlin after his impressive showing in the critically acclaimed gangster movie,Road to Perdition, but Kieran surprised everyone.
At the 7th Annual Satellite Awards, he wowed even further, beating out established names like Nicolas Cage (Adaptation), Hugh Grant (About a Boy), and Adam Sandler (Punch-Drunk Love),to win Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
‘Succession’ (2019 – 2023)
Successiontook the world by storm as soon as it premiered in 2018, establishing itself as one ofthe best screen productions revolving around business. The series follows the wealthy Roy family, owners of the New York City-based global media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo. The patriarch, Logan Roy, is experiencing a decline in health, sohis four children, Connor, Kendall, Roman (Culkin), and Shiv, begin a sycophancy contest, hoping to be named the next boss.
One of the Most Awarded TV Shows in History
At the 24th Annual Satellite Awards,all the show’s main actors were recognized, winning Best Cast in a Television Series. This came as no shocker, considering thatSuccessionhas the strongest all-round cast of any TV show, with actors like Matthew Macfadyen and Brian Cox all having strong catalogs.
By 2022, the show had grown even bigger. Hence, itwon Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Seriesat the Screen Actors Guild AwardsandBest Castin a Television Seriesat the Satellite Awards, marking an incredible year for Kieran. At the Critics' Choice Awards, Kieranwon Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.For the award, he was competing against castmates, Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen, Billy Crudup fromThe Morning Show,Justin Hartley fromThis Is Us, and Mandy Patinkin fromThe Good Fight
By the fourth and final season,Successionhad become flawless and Kieran Culkin had grown tremendously as an actor. For the first time, he received an Emmy,landing the coveted Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series trophy.The accolade was a testament to how much he had grown as an actor, having initially been thought of as just another LA regular who could only be called up for supporting roles. Winning the award was no small feat. He beat out castmates Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong, as well as Pedro Pascal fromThe Last of Us, Jeff Bridges fromThe Old Man, and Bob Odenkirk fromBetter Call Saul.
The Television Academy judges weren’t the only ones who felt that Kieran deserved good things. Before the Emmy, he had scooped the Golden Globe Award forBest Actor in a Television Series– Dramafor the same role and the Critics Choice award forBest Actor in a Drama Series.In 2024, the show also won a collective Screen Actors Guild award forOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Seriesand a Satellite Award forBest Cast.
‘A Real Pain’ (2024)
Kieran Culkin has followed up on hisSuccessionsuccess by starring in one ofthe best buddy comediesto come out in recent years. InA Real Pain, two cousins — David (Jesse Eisenberg), a reserved family man, and Benji (Kieran Culkin), a free-spirited drifter —embark on a trip to Poland to connect with their heritage, following the death of their grandmother.Unsurprisingly, their conflicting personalities result in some clashes.
Showers of Trophies
Kieran gave his greatest performances inSuccession, butA Real Painhas brought him more success than he has ever had in his career. The actorhas won multiple awards already for his role as Benji, with many more to come.
The trophies include a Golden Globe, National Board of Review, Astra, and Screen Actors Guild awards. Nearly every major critic association in America has recognized him as Best Supporting Actor. At this point, it’s easy to predict how the Oscars will go in that particular category. Kieran deserves it.
