How many Culkins can you count?
Most of us know Home Alone legend, Macaulay Culkin. And, given the enormity of Succession, chances are you’re also familiar with the work of his younger brother, Kieran Culkin.
However, there may be more Culkins in Hollywood than you realise.
Before we get into the Culkin siblings, you may want to know about their parents.
Culkins in Hollywood actually date back generations, with father Kit Culkin being a theatre actor and his sister, Bonnie, a Golden Globe-nominated actress.
In 1974 Kit started dating Patricia Brentrup and the pair were together for 21 years though never married.
Together, Kit and Patricia had seven children, a few of whom you may be quite familiar with!
So, who are all the Culkin kids?
Macaulay Culkin, born 1980
If you only know one Culkin, it’s surely Macaulay.
One of the most famous child actors of all time, Macaulay led the Home Alone films to massive international success.
Upon nabbing the role of Thomas J. in My Girl, he reportedly became the first child star to gain $1 million (US) for a role. When he landed Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, his salary jumped to $4.5 million.
Since his youth, Macaulay has had fewer acting gigs but has remained in the press for various reasons.
His famous friendship with Michael Jackson has spent time in and out of the spotlight, with Macaulay defending the musician against accusations of child sexual assault.
Macaulay is even godfather to Paris Jackson and the pair share matching tattoos.
Macaulay has also had some high-profile relationships with actresses Mila Kunis – whom he dated for nine years – and Brenda Song – who he began dating in 2018.
Macaulay and Brenda welcomed their first child, Dakota Song Culkin, in 2021. In 2023 it was revealed the pair secretly welcomed a second child.
Kieran Culkin, born 1982
Kieran, while not as iconic as his big brother, has had some major success as an actor.
He was in Father of the Bride, Cider House Rules, She’s All That and Igby Goes Down.
He also joined Macaulay in Home Alone, playing the youngest member of the McAlister clan, Fuller.
Most recently, Culkin was catapulted to the A-list for his role as Roman Roy, the second youngest sibling in smash hit Succession.
Kieran is the middle child and two years younger than his older brother Macauley. He is the fourth of seven children born to Kit and Patricia.
Rory Culkin, born 1989
Rory is the youngest of the Culkin crew and also an actor like his older brothers, Macaulay and Kieran.
Rory is a star on the rise thanks to his recent appearance in Swarm – the new Amazon Prime series written by Donald Glover, AKA Childish Gambino.
Culkin quickly garnered headlines after appearing in the series totally nude.
The full-frontal scene was only a cameo, but will it propel Rory’s career to new heights?
Rory has been in-front of the camera since the nineties, occasionally appearing as younger versions of his siblings’ characters.
Rory appeared as a younger version of Macaulay in Richie Rich, and also as a younger version of Kieran in Igby Goes Down.
The youngest Culkin has carved his own career largely in the thriller/horror genre, including Scream 4.
Dakota Culkin, born 1979
The second-eldest Culkin, Dakota or ‘Cody’, tragically passed away in 2008.
At the age of 29, Dakota died after being struck by a car while cross the street in California.
A friend revealed to PEOPLE that Dakota and Macaulay were very close and, in 2021, Macaulay even named his son Dakota after his older sister.
Kieran has also spoken of his sister’s passing, telling The Hollywood Reporter it was “the worst thing that’s ever happened”.
In the 2021 interview, he shared his ongoing grief at the loss.
“I accepted at the time that this is going to be forever, and it’s never going to be fine. It’s always going to be devastating,” he said. “I still weep about it out of nowhere. Something funny she did will pop in the head and make me laugh, and then I’m weeping.
“Sometimes it’s knowing that she’s not going to meet my kids and they don’t get to have her, and it’s hard to describe what she was like.”
Quinn Culkin, born 1984
Quinn has stayed largely out of the limelight, but appeared with a couple of films alongside her older brother, Macaulay, in the early nineties.
Quinn appeared as Macaulay’s character’s sister in The Good Son and in an uncredited role (‘Girl at Airport’) in Home Alone.
She also voiced the role of Katie McClary in Wish Kid, Macaulay’s animated children’s series about a child with a magic baseball glove.
Shane Culkin, born 1976
Shane Culkin is the oldest of the Culkin family (apart from half-sister Jennifer Adamson who passed away in 2000).
Shane also initially pursued a career in the arts, appearing in a production of legendary play, Our Town.
He now enjoys a life out of the spotlight.
Christian Culkin, 1987
The second-youngest Culkin has one film role to his name – the 1994 family flick My Summer Story, starring Mary Steenburgen and Christian’s brother, Kieran!
Christian, or Chris, is a writer and studied at Manhattanville College and The Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema.
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