Profile Text
Culkin in 2003, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Kieran Kyle Culkin
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 30, 1982
Ethnicity: German, one quarter Norwegian, one eighth Irish, smaller amounts of Swiss-German, Swiss-French/French, and English, remote Belgian
Kieran Culkin is an American actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain (2024). His roles also include the Home Alone franchise, Only the Lonely , Father of the Bride (1991), and its sequel; Nowhere to Run , My Summer Story , The Mighty (1998), She’s All That , Music of the Heart , The Cider House Rules , The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys , Igby Goes Down , Lymelife , Paper Man , Scott Pilgrim vs. the World , Margaret (2011), Movie 43 , Quitters , Wiener-Dog , Infinity Baby , No Sudden Move , and Animal Farm (2025); and the series The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns , Go Fish , Fargo , Long Live the Royals , Succession , Gaming Wall Street , Solar Opposites , Scott Pilgrim Takes Off , The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy , and #1 Happy Family USA ; as well as many works on stage.
He is the son of Patricia Brentrup, a road traffic controller, and actor Kit Culkin (Christopher Cornelius Culkin). Among his siblings are actors Macaulay Culkin and Rory Culkin . His aunt, father’s sister, is actress Bonnie Bedelia (Bonnie Bedelia Culkin). He was raised in Yorkville, Manhattan. Kieran is married to Jazz Charton, with whom he has three children.
Kieran’s father has German and one quarter Irish ancestry, with smaller amounts of Swiss-German, Swiss-French/French, and English, and remote Belgian. Kieran’s mother is of half German and half Norwegian descent.
His father gave most of his children Irish first names.
Kieran’s paternal grandfather was Philip Harley/Henry Culkin (the son of Philip Joseph Culkin and Amanda Juliette/Juliet Ferrier). Kieran’s grandfather Philip was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York. Kieran’s great-grandfather Philip was born in Michigan, the son of Irish parents, Philip Clemens Culkin and Margaret Ann Doyle. Kieran’s great-grandfather Amanda was born in Neuchâtel, Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, the daughter of Henri/Henry Ferrier and Rosine/Rosina Loeffel. Given the surnames Ferrier and Loeffel, it is likely that Amanda had Swiss-French and Swiss-German ancestry.
Kieran’s paternal grandmother was Marian Ethel Wagner (the daughter of Joseph Franklin Wagner and Ethel Lula Herrold). Marian was born in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, and had German, including Alsatian German, and some English and Swiss-German, ancestry. Some of her family had lived in the U.S. since the 1600s. Joseph was born in La Belle, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, the son of John Merritt Wagner, who was born in Baden, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; and of Rebecca Shellhammer/Shellhamer. Kieran’s great-grandmother Ethel was born in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, the daughter of Matthew Henry Herrold and Rosella/Rose Elizabeth Lusher.
Kieran’s maternal grandfather was Hubert Mathias Brentrup (the son of Johannes/John Maria Brentrup and Kathryn/Catherine Ann “Katie” Kirchen). Hubert was born in Amidon, Slope County, North Dakota. John was born in Rheda Wiedenbrück, Detmold, Germany, the son of Johannes/John Stephan Brentrup and Maria Elisabeth/Elizabeth Schalk. Kieran’s great-grandmother Katie was born in Garrison, McLean County, North Dakota, to a German-born father, Mathias/Matthias Kirchen, from Philippsheim, Bitburg-Prumer Landkreis, Rheinland-Pfalz; and to a mother, Grace Wadenspanner, who was either born in Bavaria, Germany, or in the U.S., to German parents.
Kieran’s maternal grandmother was Mildred Doris “Millie” Narum (the daughter of Julius Olaf Narum and Inga Christine Jordet). Mildred was born in Amidon, Slope County, North Dakota. Julius was born in Twin Valley, Norman County, Minnesota, to Norwegian parents, Johan/Johannes Christiansen Narum, from Narum, Kolbu, Østre Toten, Oppland; and Eli Karine Hansdatter Teterud/Morterudhaugen, who was born in Morterudhaugen, Vestre Toten, Oppland. Kieran’s great-grandmother Inga was born in North Dakota, also to Norwegian parents, Ole Iversen Rotnem Jordet, from Jordet/Martegarden, Rotneim, Gol, Buskerud; and Mary/Margaret/Margit Farseth/Aslaksdatter, who was also from Gol.
Kieran’s matrilineal line can be traced to Birgit Pedersdatter, who was born, c. 1730, in Nes, Buskerud, Norway.
Sources: Genealogy of Kieran Culkin – https://www.geni.com
Genealogies of Kieran’s maternal grandparents, Hubert Mathias Brentrup and Mildred Doris “Millie” (Narum) Brentrup – https://www.findagrave.com
Kieran’s maternal grandmother, Mildred Doris “Millie” Narum, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org