You know how some actors just seem to "get" it? Like they’ve finally cracked the code on being famous without actually caring about the fame? That’s basically been the vibe for the Kieran Culkin SAG Awards run lately. Honestly, it’s been a chaotic, hilarious, and weirdly emotional ride to watch him go from being "Macaulay's brother" to the guy who literally owns every stage he walks onto.
He doesn't do the PR-friendly, polished speech thing. Not even close.
Whether he’s roasting a Hollywood legend or obsessing over how much a statue weighs, Kieran Culkin has turned the Screen Actors Guild Awards into his own personal playground. And honestly? We need more of that energy in Hollywood.
The 2025 Supporting Actor Win: Heavy Trophies and Stray Shots
So, let’s talk about the most recent madness. At the 2025 SAG Awards, Kieran took home the statue for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in A Real Pain. If you haven't seen the movie, he plays Benji, a guy who is—unsurprisingly—kind of a mess, but a deeply lovable one.
The moment he got to the mic, he didn't start with the usual "I'm so humbled" script. Instead, he looked at the "The Actor" statue and basically told the room it was way too heavy.
"I don't think there's any way anyone can hold this for 45 seconds, which is the allotted time," he joked.
Then, out of nowhere, he takes a shot at Adrien Brody.
Poor Adrien was just sitting there, probably still recovering from his own long-winded Golden Globes speech for The Brutalist, and Kieran just calls him out by name. He reminded Brody—and the entire room—about that 45-second time limit. It was classic Kieran: a bit of a "suck it" moment, followed immediately by a "I love you, it's a joke."
He also revealed the bizarre way he got cast in the film. Apparently, Jesse Eisenberg (who wrote and directed it) hadn't even seen Kieran's work. Jesse’s sister, Hallie—yeah, the girl from the 90s Pepsi commercials—was the one who told him to hire Kieran. In his speech, Kieran called Jesse "sweet but dumb" for listening to her, but then gave Hallie the real credit for "putting my name into your stupid brother's ear."
Why the Pedro Pascal "Beef" Mattered
You can't talk about Kieran Culkin at the SAG Awards without mentioning the 2024 season. That was the year of the Great Faux Feud.
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It started at the Golden Globes when Kieran won and told Pedro Pascal to "suck it." It was the joke heard 'round the internet. But when the SAG Awards rolled around in February 2024, the tables turned. Pedro won for The Last of Us, beating Kieran in the Male Actor in a Drama Series category.
Pedro’s speech was famously "a little drunk," and he later told reporters backstage that his "revenge" would be making out with Kieran at the after-party.
The best part? Kieran’s wife, Jazz Charton, was totally here for it. She posted on Instagram that "balance has been restored to the universe" because Kieran was back to doing what he does best: losing. It’s that kind of grounded, self-deprecating family dynamic that makes the Culkins so much more relatable than your average A-lister.
The Succession Legacy at SAG
For years, we watched Kieran as Roman Roy, the fast-talking, boundary-crossing youngest son on Succession. The SAG Awards were always a big night for that cast because they actually liked each other.
In 2022, they won the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series award. While his co-star Nicholas Braun was trying to give a serious intro, Kieran was literally caught on camera eating dinner and ignoring the pomp and circumstance.
It’s easy to forget that before the Succession sweep, Kieran was someone the industry didn't quite know what to do with. He’d done Igby Goes Down in 2002, got a Golden Globe nod, and then... kind of just did theater and indie stuff for a decade. The SAG Awards wins aren't just about a single performance; they feel like the industry finally catching up to a talent that’s been there all along.
The Physicality of the Win
There’s something very specific about how Kieran interacts with the physical award. Most actors hold it like a sacred relic. Kieran treats it like a weird piece of luggage he’s forced to carry.
At the 31st Annual SAG Awards, he spent a solid chunk of his time fixated on the weight of the bronze. It’s a bit of meta-commentary on the industry itself—the "weight" of being recognized by your peers. Or, more likely, he just thought it was really, really heavy and wanted everyone to know.
What’s Next for Kieran?
If you're following the trajectory, the SAG win for A Real Pain was the final "precursor" win. He’s already grabbed the Golden Globe and the BAFTA for this role. In the world of awards season math, a SAG win is usually the ultimate green light for an Oscar.
The critics are calling his performance in A Real Pain career-best work. It’s different from Roman Roy—more vulnerable, less shielded by sarcasm—and the fact that he can win over his peers (the SAG voters) proves he’s not just a one-note actor.
Moving Forward
If you want to keep up with the "Kieran-issance," here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Watch A Real Pain: If you only know him from Succession, this movie will change how you see his range. It’s a much more grounded, Jewish-heritage-focused story that hits differently.
- The Broadway Run: He’s been taking on heavy hitters on stage, like the revival of Glengarry Glen Ross. If you're in NYC, that’s the place to see the raw talent.
- Awards Season Trends: Keep an eye on how he handles the upcoming Oscars. If history is any indication, he'll probably say something that makes his publicist sweat and the rest of us laugh.
Honestly, the "The Actor" statue might be heavy, but Kieran Culkin seems to be carrying the weight of his new A-list status just fine—mostly by making fun of it every chance he gets.