Kieran Culkin has opened up about how difficult it was losing his sister Dakota 15 years after her death.
The Succession actor, 42, who briefly appeared alongside his older brother Macaulay Culkin, 44, in Home Alone, grew up in a large family with five other siblings; Shane, Dakota, Quinn, Christian and Rory.
Dakota worked on the opposite side of the camera in art production on the likes of supernatural thriller Lost Soul.
The 29-year-old sadly died in 2008 after being struck by a car while crossing the street in California, US.
“She was taken to UCLA hospital with massive head trauma and passed away on Dec. 10th at 12:45 PM,” the LAPD said in a statement at the time.
“The driver stopped, rendered aid, and identified himself as required by law. Detectives have determined that the driver was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so no crime was committed.”
Kieran Culkin spoke about the death of his sister Dakota (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
In an interview with CBS, Kieran has revealed how lost he felt when Dakota died.
“I only knew who I was because of who my siblings are,” he said. “So, to lose one was losing a big piece of myself.
“Losing one of my favourite people in the world, it doesn’t get better.
“It doesn’t get easier, but you get used to it.”
As well as making a name for himself in Succession, Kieran said his character Roman Roy’s humour reminded him of his late sister’s humour.
“After a couple seasons, I realised there was some stuff that Roman did that I was like, ‘Oh, that’s my sister, that was her sense of humour’,” he explained.
Macaulay Culkin (left) with his younger brother Kieran Culkin (right) in 1990 (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
“She could find exactly what the right thing to make fun of you was that would get to you, but be really funny and make the room laugh. That was her.”
Kieran said he would take on the older brother role in the house when growing up, adding: “Whenever the door would open to let the kids in, I used to stand aside and count to make sure all six of them got in before I got in.
“That’s how I remember growing up, too. I couldn’t fall asleep until they all fell asleep. I only existed because they did around me.”
Dakota’s friend Andrea Poe told PEOPLE that she had recently moved to LA from New York to pursue a career in film production.
“She was very low-key [about her name], but at the same time proud of her siblings,” Poe said. “She was very close to Macaulay. They would talk frequently on the phone or go out to eat.”
When Macaulay and Brenda Song welcomed their first child in 2021, they named him Dakota.
It’s not Christmas without Macaulay Culkin. I mean, if you’ve made it this far December without seeing his face, it’s quite the feat.
The actor is of course the star of Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
So, he’s pretty much synonymous with the Christmas season.
And back in 2018, he asked for a rather unique present for Crimbo – a new name.
Earlier this month, Culkin was reunited with his on-screen mum Catherine O’Hara.
The 43-year-old was honoured with receiving a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
O’Hara, who played Kevin’s mum Kate McCallister, gave a speech at the ceremony and said: “Home Alone was, is and always will be a beloved global sensation … the reason families all over the world can’t let a year go by without watching and loving Home Alone together is because of Macaulay Culkin.”
And this week, fans were whipped into a frenzy after a trailer dropped for Home Alone 3: Kevin’s Revenge, which would see an adult Kevin face off against the Wet Bandits following their release from prison.
Heartbreakingly, it turned out the trailer was made using AI and no such film was on the cards.
However, if Culkin ever did appear in another Home Alone sequel, he’d be going by a new moniker.
20th Century Fox
This comes after Culkin let people vote on what he should change his middle name to five years ago.
Culkin’s middle name was Carson, which doesn’t seem too bad.
But he shared an article on his site bunnyears.com explaining that his middle name was ‘something dumb’.
“Larry? Orange? Honestly, I can’t even remember it,” he wrote.
“So I asked you all to send in some better options so I can go down to the court house and explain to a judge why I need to change my middle name to something cool.”
And from the suggestions he pulled out five he liked: TheMcRibIsBack, Kieran, Shark Week, Publicity Stunt and Macaulay Culkin. All fine choices, I’m sure you’ll agree.
He went on: “This poll is open till Christmas Eve so I can wake up to a wonderful present from everyone.
“Sure, I might have gold plated watercraft, and chrome plated invisibility cloaks, but all I want for Christmas is a new middle name.
“And then you can be all ‘Oh, you got your wife a beautiful portrait of your family? Well, I chose Macaulay Culkin’s Middle Name’.”
So, drumroll… the chosen name actually ended up being Macaulay Culkin, scooping up over 60,000 votes – so now, his name is Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin. Beautiful.
Sharing his new moniker on X, Culkin – who goes by Mack – wrote that it had a ‘nice ring to it’.
Speaking to host Jimmy Fallon about his name change, he said: “So, if somebody comes up to me at the airport, and says, ‘Excuse me, are you Macaulay Culkin?’
“I’d go, ‘Well Macaulay Culkin is my middle name’.”
All five of the Culkin brothers are going to star in a show together for the first time.
You know who I mean, the famous Culkins with an absolute whopping about of film credits between them. And despite the occasional appearance between them, they’ve never actually all worked on the same project together.
Christian, Kieran, Macaulay, Rory and Shane might all look incredibly similar in real life and despite them not actually appearing in real life in this new show, it’s still going to be tough to tell them apart.
Kieran Culkin is starring as Dr. Plowp in the upcoming animated series, The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy.
Set thousands of years into the future, it also features Stephanie Hsu, Sam Smith, Keke Palmer and Maya Rudolph.
The show sees two alien best mates and ‘intergalactically renowned surgeons’ taking on ‘anxiety-eating parasites, illegal time loops, and deep-space STIs’.
And in one episode, Keiran will be joined by his brothers Macaulay, Rory, Christian and Shane – as his character’s brothers – as they celebrate St. Cthonk’s Day. Yeah, I haven’t got a clue either.
And in case you don’t know who all five of the Culkin lads are:
Kieran Culkin
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
Any Succession fan will probably know this brother best for playing Roman Roy – a role which landed him a Golden Globe and an Emmy.
Aged 41, his first role was actually Kevin’s cousin Fuller McCallister in Home Alone.
After various child roles, he went on to appear in the likes of Music of the Heart, Igby Goes Down and The Mighty.
Macaulay Culkin
Anna Webber/Variety via Getty Images
Well obviously, the 43-year-old brother is best known for playing Kevin McAllister in the first two Home Alone films.
Married to Disney Channel star Brenda Song, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame towards the end of last year.
Macaulay has also starred in the likes of Richie Rich, Party Monster and American Horror Story.
Rory Culkin
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic/Getty Images
The youngest of the brothers, Rory started off often playing the younger versions of Macaulay and Kieran in the likes of Richie Rich and Igby Goes Down.
The 34-year-old has also appeared in the likes of Scream 4, Signs, Gabriel and Swarm.
Christian Culkin
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic/Getty Images
The 37-year-old doesn’t have has many acting credits as his brothers but appeared in 1994’s My Summer Story alongside Kieran.
Christian seems to have stepped out of the spotlight mostly and nowadays works as a writer. Well, and as an animated alien for a one-off I guess.
Shane Culkin
The eldest of the brothers at 48, Shane has stayed mostly out of the spotlight.
He appeared on Broadway in Our Town back in 1988.