Kieran Culkin Reveals Director Called Him “Dummy and Stupid” to Get Him to Method Act When He Was Just Six Years Old

Kieran Culkin recently shared a troubling memory from his first acting job during an appearance on the Smartless podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes. Culkin, who was only six years old at the time, described a commercial shoot where he was put in an uncomfortable situation by the director.

The ad, which Culkin vaguely remembered as being related to learning disabilities, involved him standing in front of a chalkboard while other kids in the scene were meant to call him names like “dummy” and “stupid.”

However, what stuck with him most was the director’s behavior. Culkin recalled the director yelling “action” and then unexpectedly hurling insults at him, including “dummy,” “idiot,” and “stupid.” Even as a child, Culkin recognized how inappropriate the situation was, saying, “I’m six. Stand here and look sad. I’m not Method. What’s wrong with you?”

The hosts were shocked by the story, with Bateman responding with a stunned “Wow!” and Arnett exclaiming, “Oh my God, oh my God.”

Culkin also touched on his early acting experiences in the industry, which he said he never actively chose. In previous interviews, he’s opened up about how his career felt more like something that happened to him than a decision he made.

He even described a moment in his early 20s when he realized he had been acting for years without fully committing to it as a career. It wasn’t until working on Succession that Culkin felt certain he wanted to pursue acting long-term.

In addition to his work on Succession, Culkin has been reflecting on his childhood roles in movies like Home Alone and Father of the Bride. He shared in a past interview that he didn’t fully understand what Home Alone was about when he acted in it and only realized how funny it was during the premiere.

Culkin’s career continues to thrive. He recently earned acclaim for his role in Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain and has been recognized with several awards, including honors from the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. He’s also nominated for a Golden Globe, solidifying his place as one of today’s most talented actors.

You can listen to the whole interview here:

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