Encouraged by their father, all the Culkin children dabbled in acting. However, it was Macaulay, the third child, who shot to fame first with his unforgettable role in “Home Alone” in 1990. His younger siblings, Kieran and Rory, also pursued acting with dedication. Macaulay’s portrayal of Kevin McCallister in “Home Alone” and its sequel in 1992 propelled him to a level of stardom not seen since the days of Shirley Temple.

Kieran, though an actor in his own right and even playing Kevin McCallister’s cousin, found fame to be a different experience. He was close enough to witness the impact of fame on his brother yet far enough not to be in its direct glare. The reminders of Macaulay’s stardom were inescapable, from the prying eyes of onlookers to his visits to the famed Neverland Ranch.

He reminisced, “For me, I got to sort of experience it secondhand as a child.” The fame took a toll on the entire family. The paparazzi became a constant presence, and the media eagerly reported any signs of family discord, especially during their parents’ bitter split.

At the age of thirteen, Kieran even penned a heartfelt plea to the court, asking to spare his family further embarrassment by barring the press from their custody battle. He penned, “It has already been hard on us, and I see no point to it.” Unfortunately, his plea was denied.

Despite the upheaval in his life, Kieran never thought about abandoning acting. His early education was at a Catholic school until third grade. He then moved to the aptly named Professional Children’s School, designed to accommodate the hectic schedules of children in the performing arts.

Kieran’s childhood acting career was marked by diverse roles. His filmography included notable films such as the Freddie Prinze Jr. film “She’s All That,” “The Cider House Rules,” and “Father of the Bride.” Despite his success, Kieran confesses to having mixed feelings about his career. He began acting as a child without fully grasping the long-term consequences.

As he transitioned into adulthood, around the ages of 18 to 20, he came to a realization. He had an acting career that he never deliberately chose. This epiphany was somewhat disconcerting for him, and he decided to retreat from the spotlight for a while, using this time to introspect and figure out his life.

He decided only to continue acting if he found joy in it, and the projects appealed to him. He remarked during an interview, “I didn’t necessarily pursue the acting career or success or anything like that. I just enjoy doing work from time to time.” Kieran also shared his insights on the challenges of child stardom, having witnessed it through his brother Macaulay Culkin.

He points out that people often overlook the fact that child stars are just kids who are suddenly thrust into the spotlight without the necessary tools to handle it. He recalled feeling bad for his brother when they were young and thinking, “That sucks for him.”

While Kieran may have a different level of recognition than his older brother Macaulay, he has carved out a successful acting career. Macaulay has five awards and eight nominations, while Kieran has amassed 12 awards and 35 nominations.

In March 2023, Kieran wrapped up filming the last season of “Succession,” a show that ran from 2018 to 2023. During his six-year stint on the show, he experienced significant personal changes. He married, became a father, purchased his first home in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and relocated from the island where he had spent his entire life.

As a teenager, he had moved to the East Village, where Macaulay lived, not to be closer to him but because he found an affordable place that fulfilled his dream of having a sunken living room. Kieran spent nearly two decades in that apartment, transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.