‘Succession’ Star Kieran Culkin Says He Got Mark Ruffalo High by Swapping His Prop Joint for Real Marijuana: “I was 17 and stupid”

Kieran Culkin has come forward with a confession from his early acting days that has long been a mystery. The “Succession” star recently revealed that he was responsible for a backstage prank that turned an off-Broadway performance into an unexpectedly memorable night.

The incident happened during the 2000 production of James Lapine’s play The Moment When, where Culkin performed alongside Mark Ruffalo and Tony-winning actress Phyllis Newman. At just 17 years old, Culkin decided to swap a fake prop joint with a real one, a decision he now chalks up to being “young and stupid.”

“I thought it would be funny,” Culkin admitted. But as the play unfolded, he began to regret his actions. Watching from the wings, he realized his prank had worked all too well. Ruffalo unknowingly took dramatic puffs of the real joint on stage, and the smell of marijuana quickly gave away what had happened.

Culkin wasn’t the only one caught off guard. “Mark says, ‘I haven’t smoked pot in 10 years. The second half’s going to be so much fun,’” Culkin recalled. Another actor, who had never smoked before, remarked how pleasant the experience was. Even Newman, who hadn’t touched marijuana since the 1960s, playfully thanked Culkin for the surprise.

Not everyone was amused, though. The stage manager furiously confronted Culkin backstage, demanding the evidence. “She stomped in and said, ‘I don’t care whose it is, but Kieran, give me the joint,’” Culkin said. “I sheepishly handed her the roach, and she told me, ‘Ruin your life on your own time.’”

Ruffalo, for his part, has spoken about the event before, though he never named Culkin as the culprit. During a 2020 appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Ruffalo recounted unknowingly smoking a real joint on opening night, a performance coinciding with press reviews.

He described how he passed the joint to a co-star and realized too late that it wasn’t fake. “I took huge puffs because I wanted it to look dramatic,” Ruffalo said, laughing at the memory.

Despite the chaos, Ruffalo joked that it was one of his best-reviewed performances ever. “But I’d never do it again,” he clarified.

Now, years later, Culkin looks back on the incident with a mix of humor and regret. “I’m 42 now. I know better,” he said. “I’m not going to try to get anyone high on stage again.”

These days, Culkin is focused on his career, including his role in the comedy A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg. He’s also earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the film, proving that while youthful antics may fade, his talent remains front and center.

What do you think? Is it a step too far for Culkin or a good prank?

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