Think about famous Hollywood families and you’ll inevitably end up recalling names like Barrymore, Baldwin, or even the Hawn/Hudson/Russell brood, but when you talk about a legacy that transcends generations (and cultural relevance) its impossible to look past the Culkin family. Most notably brothers Kieran and Macaulay, who’ve each navigated decades of fame in – and sometimes out – of the public eye across their prolific careers.
But while Kieran Culkin and his brother, Macaulay Culkin, may command the most public recognition, the original Culkin siblings, who include Christian, Rory, Shane, Quinn and the late Dakota, are part of a famous family of seven who’ve each paved a similar – yet unique – creative path.
Far from removed from the trappings of celebrity, the Culkin clan have had their fair share of controversies and challenges over the years, but for the most part, have traversed the troublesome child star pipeline and emerged relatively unscathed.
So who are the Culkin siblings of Kieran and Macaulay? Below, a deep dive into the famous family who’ve captured the culture, and our hearts, since they first made it onto our screens.
Macaulay Culkin, 44
Born in New York City on August 26, 1980, to theatre actor Kit Culkin and his long-time partner, Patricia Brentrup, Macaulay became the third child in the couple’s growing family.
At the age of 10, Macaulay was catapulted to celebrity status after starring in the iconic family hit – Home Alone, as the precocious and loveable prankster, Kevin McAllister.
Going onto star in the Home Alone sequel, as well as a suite of coming-of-age classics like My Girl (1991), The Nutcracker (1993) and Richie Rich (1994), Macaulay became synonymous with the golden era of nineties family-friendly cinema.
After nearly a decade of dominating Hollywood, the actor took a break before returning to the industry to star in a slew of indie dramas like Party Monster (2003), Saved! (2004) and Sex and Breakfast (2007), before releasing his semi-autobiographical novel, Junior.
Written as a memoir of sorts, the book revealed a heartbreaking recount of his unique childhood and strained relationship with his father, Kit. In it, Macaulay spoke about the impact of fame on his family dynamics, and how the path to celebrity took its toll on both him, and his father.
At the age of 15, Macaulay made headlines for removing his parents as legal guardians to reclaim control of his earnings, beginning a period of immense upheaval for the child actor.
While his professional career took a breather, Macaulay married actress Rachel Miner in 1998 at the age of 18, before divorcing four years later in 2002.
Following on from his divorce, the actor dated Mila Kunis from 2002 to 2010, before going through a very public breakup that sent the tabloids into a spin.
In 2017, the unlucky-in-love actor began dating fellow childhood star, Brenda Song, after reconnecting on the set of Changeland.
The love story continues to this day, with the beautiful couple sharing two children, 3-year-old Dakota (named after his late sister) and 2-year-old Carson.
While the pair remain notoriously private, they do offer up bites of romantic inspiration every now and again via sweet quotes and candid couple moments, that we can’t get enough of frankly.
Kieran Culkin, 42
While Kieran Culkin’s career might have started out in the shadow of his wildly famous brother, it didn’t stay that way for long.
Off the back of his role in Home Alone and Home Alone 2 as the youngest brother in the chaotic McAllister family, the charismatic Kieran went on to feature in the blockbuster Father of the Bride, cementing his own name in the cultural zeitgeist.
Despite his enviable level of fame, Kieran’s star didn’t quite burst through the association with his brother until his starring role in indie film, Igby Goes Down in 2002. The actor picked up a Golden Globe nomination for the performance, which led to a new level of success he wasn’t quite prepared to accept – just then. “I was definitely not ready,” he admitted. “I would not have been able to handle it.”
After all, he’d grown up in a family that had been knocked a few fame-induced blows by then and Kieran was hesitant to follow suit, as he’s frequently made mention of in various interviews throughout his decades-long career.
“I think well-adjusted, smart people that experience it first- or secondhand would not pursue it,” he said of fame in a recent Vanity Fair article. “I’ll totally take personal happiness over success, absolutely. If I’m miserable, then what’s the fucking point?”
It’s this type of insight that has, arguably, turned him into one of the most likeable, albeit reluctant, celebrities of recent times, as evidenced by his recent best supporting actor win at this year’s Oscars.
But before taking home the gong for his role in the critically acclaimed A Real Pain, it was Kieran’s portrayal of Roman Roy in the dynastic family drama Succession that flipped the script the Culkin family name.
His character – and by extension – his real-life personality, was a breath of fresh air whenever he appeared on screen, buoyed by a relatable sarcasm and undeniable charisma that soon became his schtick.
His comments about fame, but also about family, have provided a refreshing take on the celebrity experience, cutting through the noise with a genuine perspective that only serves to make him even more popular in the public’s eye.
Keiran married wife Jazz Charton in June 2013 and the couple share two children – daughter Kinsey and Son, Wilder. “I love you Jazz,” he beamed during his Oscars acceptance speech. “I have to thank my wife Jazz for absolutely everything, for giving me my favourite people in the world.”
Rory Culkin, 35
Rory Culkin was born in 1989 as the youngest member of the Culkin clan.
He was thrust into the acting world from an early stage – along with the rest of his six siblings – often appearing on screen as the younger versions of his older brothers, as he did in Richie Rich and Igby Goes Down. But his acting career hasn’t just been off the back of his brothers’ success.
He’s enjoyed leading roles in You Can Could On Me, opposite Laura Linney, among various other credits in blockbusters such as Scream 4 and Signs, and has appeared in shows such as Under The Banner of Heaven and Black Mirror.
Critical acclaim came with his performance in Lords of Chaos, a film about the Norwegian black-metal scene in 1993 – a film he’s immensely proud of to this day. “I’m really proud of it,” he told Vanity Fair when the film was released in 2018.
“It’s rare when I get behind something and feel prideful of it and want to show it to people, and this is one of those. It’s sort of my baby right now.”
Quinn Culkin, 40
The third youngest child in the Culkin brood, and having grown up around the levels of fame experienced by her older brothers, Quinn wasn’t naturally interested in acting, but was made to be almost by default.
This initial reluctance proved to be a telling indicator for where her career would inevitably lead.
And while the short-lived actress had roles in Wish Kid and The Good Son, alongside brother Macaulay, that was enough for her to know that life wasn’t for her.
Quinn has remained largely removed from public life, making a rare appearance to celebrate Mac’s Hollywood Hall of Fame ceremony in 2023.
