Sunday was a landmark day for Kieran Culkin as he claimed the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. His remarkable performance in A Real Pain led him to this golden achievement, as he triumphed over fellow nominees Edward Norton, Yura Borisov, Guy Pearce, and Succession co-star Jeremy Strong.
Written and directed by Eisenberg, A Real Pain follows mismatched cousins David and Benji as they travel through Poland to honor their grandmother. Their journey becomes complicated as old tensions arise while exploring their family history, according to the New York Post.
Culkin’s powerful performance has already earned him several major acting honors this awards season, including a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, and a Critics’ Choice Award. With the Oscar win, he has now added another prestigious accolade to his collection.
The Academy Award nominations were announced in January, after voting had been extended twice due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, which resulted in at least 28 deaths and widespread damage.
Timothée Chalamet, who has shown his box office appeal with Dune and Wonka, was nominated for Best Actor for his transformative role as Dylan in A Complete Unknown. He will compete against Adrien Brody, who became the youngest Best Actor winner in history at 29 for his role in The Pianist. Other Best Actor nominees include Colman Domingo for Sing, Ralph Fiennes for Conclave, and Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice.