Kieran Culkin Wins SAG Award for Supporting Actor and Delivers Hilarious Acceptance Speech
Image credits: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images; Monica Schipper/FilmMagic
Kieran Culkin is no stranger to awards show acceptance speeches, and his speech at the 2025 SAG Awards was no exception. Upon accepting his trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in A Real Pain, Culkin joked about the weight of the award, saying "Thank you for this incredibly heavy award" and "I don’t think there’s any way anyone can hold this for 45 seconds… which is the allotted time, Adrien Brody!"
Culkin immediately clarified that his comment was a joke, saying "There was no reason to take that shot. I love you, it’s a joke. You take your time." He then went on to deliver a hilarious and rambling speech, poking fun at the idea that the heaviest award is the one given by actors, saying "It’s funny that the heaviest of all awards is the one that’s given by actors. It’s, like, you know, ‘Us, what we do means so much’". Culkin's speech was a highlight of the evening, and his ability to poke fun at himself and the awards show format was a breath of fresh air.
Culkin's win was not a surprise, as he has been on an awards hot streak in recent years, entering this year’s Oscar season on the heels of his critically acclaimed performance as Roman Roy in the final season of HBO’s Succession, which earned him Emmys and Golden Globe wins and a SAG nomination. His performance in A Real Pain has also received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising his dramatic range and versatility as an actor. Culkin was nominated alongside Jonathan Bailey for Wicked, Yura Borisov for Anora, Edward Norton for A Complete Unknown, and Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice, but he was the odds-on favorite to win after picking up nearly every precursor award.
The other nominees for the award were a talented group of actors, with notable performances in a range of films. Jonathan Bailey's performance in Wicked, a film adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical, has been praised for its energy and charisma. Yura Borisov's performance in Anora, a film about a young woman's journey from strip clubs to a whirlwind romantic elopement, has been praised for its nuance and sensitivity. Edward Norton's performance in A Complete Unknown, a film about Bob Dylan in the 1960s, has been praised for its depth and complexity. Jeremy Strong's performance in The Apprentice, a film about the early days of Donald Trump's career, has been praised for its intensity and conviction.
Culkin's speech was not just notable for its humor, but also for its heartfelt thanks to his colleagues and family. He thanked Jesse Eisenberg, his costar and the writer and director of A Real Pain, as well as Eisenberg's sister Hallie, who he claimed was responsible for his casting in the film. He also thanked his team, his wife, and his mom, who was in attendance at the award show. The list of people he thanked included:
- Jesse Eisenberg, costar and writer/director of A Real Pain
- Hallie Eisenberg, Jesse's sister who recommended Culkin for the role
- His team, including his agents and publicists
- His wife, Jazz Charton
- His mom, who was in attendance at the award show
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