Kieran Culkin opens up about the loss of his sister Dakota

Kieran Culkin will always carry the pain of losing his sister Dakota

A close-knit childhood with six siblings

Honoring Dakota’s spirit in 'Succession'

Keeping Dakota’s memory alive in the family

Kieran Culkin will always carry the pain of losing his sister Dakota

In a recent interview, 'Succession' star Kieran Culkin spoke openly about the impact of losing his older sister, Dakota, who passed away in 2008. Culkin shared that her death felt like losing a "big piece of himself."

A close-knit childhood with six siblings

Kieran, 42, grew up in a family of seven children, including his well-known brother Macaulay Culkin. In an interview with CBS News, Kieran described their bond as a “wolf-pack mentality,” adding that this close connection has remained constant even into adulthood.

Dakota’s career behind the scenes

Dakota was carving out a career as an art assistant in the film industry when she tragically passed away in 2008 after being hit by a car in Los Angeles.

Grief that doesn’t fade

“Losing one of my favorite people in the world, it doesn't get better,” he continued. “It doesn't get easier, but you get used to it," he told CBS.

A protective role

Reflecting on their childhood, Kieran shared that he felt a deep responsibility to care for his siblings. "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."

Honoring Dakota’s spirit in 'Succession'

The actor revealed that after a couple seasons of 'Succession' his character Roman started to remind him of her. "I was like, 'Oh, that's my sister. That was her sense of humor.' 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."

Keeping Dakota’s memory alive in the family

Dakota’s legacy continues within the Culkin family. Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song named their son, born in 2021, after her as a way to honor her memory.

A special bond with Macaulay

After moving to Los Angeles to pursue her career, Dakota maintained a close relationship with Macaulay, frequently staying in touch and meeting up.

Memories that surface unexpectedly

In a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kieran revealed that memories of Dakota bring both joy and sadness. "I still weep about it out of nowhere. Something funny she did will pop in the head and make me laugh, and then I’m weeping."

A deep family bond

For Kieran, his identity is inseparable from his siblings. "I only existed because they did around me," he told CBS.