Macaulay Culkin’s Look-Alike Brother Earned More Awards Than He Did Despite Feeling Inferior Growing Up

Sep 18, 2025 by apost team

Macaulay Culkin is recognized worldwide as the adorable yet mischievous Kevin McAllister, the little boy from the "Home Alone" movies of the 1990s. And even though he grew up and continued working as an actor, albeit in more niche and alternative roles, he's never really shaken his image as the "Home Alone" kid.

In the decades since he first burst onto our screens, the details of Macaulay's life as he grew up have come to light. The picture of a happy child actor that we might have glimpsed on-screen was shattered when the world learned about his home life. Pushed to work by his father, it was only in his teen years, when his parents were divorcing, that Macaulay was able to gain independence and live his life on his own terms.

Since then, he's led a much quieter life outside of the public eye. Thankfully, though, he has found his passion for acting once again. In the last two decades, he's appeared in various movies and shows and even reprised the role that made him most famous, albeit in a commercial instead of a full-length feature film. Culkin is also now engaged to actress Brenda Song, and they have two children together. 

However, Macaulay is not the only famous Culkin. As he took a backseat in acting to prioritize his family, his younger brother, whom he had also worked with in "Home Alone," went on to reap more awards and acclaim compared to him. Read on to learn more about Macaulay's younger brother. 

Living modestly in a railroad house in Yorkville, Manhattan, New York, Macaulay is one of the seven Culkin siblings, sleeping in a two-bunk bed home. Their father, Broadway actor Kit Culkin, encouraged all of his children to go into acting, which went well for Macaulay. Just shy of 10 years old, the child prodigy made his big break as Kevin McCallister in the blockbuster comedy film "Home Alone." The movie quickly proved to be an immense success. 

However, Macaulay's fame was double-edged. He wasn't able to live like an ordinary kid, and he would have difficulty going into public spaces because of the media attention. The constant swarming of paparazzi in their family has impacted even his siblings, especially his younger brother, Kieran. According to Kieran, he experienced "secondhand fame" when he was young because of his brother. This is why when their parents split, the media's coverage of their custody battle was painful for him. In 1995, 13-year-old Kieran wrote to the court to bar the media from covering the court hearing, Esquire Magazine reported. "Your Honor," he wrote:

"I ask you please to spare my family any further embarrassment by letting the press in the courtroom. It has already been hard on us and I see no point to it." 

However, the judge denied the plea, and Access Hollywood made a piece about their family, which Kieran still disdains to date. As Kieran grew up, he still took on many acting roles. Unbeknownst to many, he was also in "Home Alone" with his brother, playing his Fuller McCallister, Kevin's youngest cousin. Kieran was also in "Father of the Bride Part II," "The Cider House Rules," "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," and "Igby Goes Down," among many others. 

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Kieran had mixed feelings about his career path. In an interview with NPR, Kieran reflected on his decision to continue doing what he has been doing since he was young: "I found that suddenly I had a career that I never decided I wanted, and didn't really like that. So I kind of tried to stay out of the limelight as much as possible while I figured out what I want to do with my life and, in the meantime, I'll just do this acting thing as long as I like it and as long as I find a project that I like. I didn't necessarily pursue the acting career or success or anything like that. I just enjoy doing work from time to time,"

However, as Kieran tried to make a living as an actor, things shifted, and he began to experience stability and acclaim. In 2018, he was cast in HBO's satirical comedy-drama "Succession," playing alongside Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, J. Smith-Cameron, and Brian Cox. According to the publication, it wasn't until this job that Kieran felt like something clicked. Kieran explained:

"I can't remember if it was Season 1 or 2 (of 'Succession'), but I remember coming home from work one day and telling my wife, 'It's going really well… I think I know what I want to do with my life. I think I want to be an actor."

The actor added:

"I kind of hope people like the show I'm on because I'm having such a good time doing it, so I want to keep doing it." 

Although Kieran faced his fair share of rejection over the years, he has come to love acting and appreciate the success he now has. 

Kieran appeared in several films and television shows and even hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 2021. Kieran has also gained a lot of insight into the industry thanks to his older brother and is proving that the Culkin family is full of talented individuals. Kerian gratefully found a healthy approach to dealing with the hardships fame brings. he told the Guardian:

"Just be unlikable, it's fun."

He also revealed some upcoming work, though he didn't give away too many details:

"I'll tell you this – it's by far the most terrifying thing I've ever said yes to. I'm shaking with nerves just thinking about it."

From then on, he started reaping the fruit of his labor. From his role in the hit series alone, Kieran earned two Critics' Choice Television Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor in a Drama Series, three Satellite Awards, a SAG Award, a Golden Globe for Best Actor, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. In total, Kieran has 11 awards from 32 nominations, while Macaulay has four awards from 14 nominations, making him a more accomplished and decorated actor than his brother.  

At 42, Kieran is married to Jazz Charton and they have two children. They have since moved to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, from Manhattan, thanks to his success in "Succession." Despite struggling to juggle his time between his family and his work, Kieran publicly asked his wife to have more during his Emmys acceptance speech. Speaking to PEOPLE, Kieran revealed that he's looking forward to spending time with his children after spending so much time away from them during the string of awards show ceremonies he had to attend in early 2024. 

Do you know Kieran Culkin? What can you say about his experiences growing up in Hollywood? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones out there!