Kieran Culkin recently won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar at the 97th Academy Awards, surpassing his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong. In his acceptance speech, Culkin took the opportunity to commend Strong, who was nominated for his performance as Roy Cohn in The series The Apprentice. Both Strong and Culkin are Emmy winners, recognized for their exceptional performances in the critically acclaimed HBO series Succession, which is regarded as one of the best TV drama series of the 21st century.
Culkin’s Oscar-winning performance in Jesse Eisenberg’s film *A Real Pain* was the clear favorite to win the Best Supporting Actor award after his SAG Award win last week. He also received numerous accolades at major Oscar precursor ceremonies, including the BAFTA Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. Stay updated with all of THH’s Oscars coverage as the complete list of winners for the 2025 Oscars is revealed.
Culkin entered the 2025 Oscars as a frontrunner, making him one of the most predictable winners of the night. Strong was also nominated for the BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor, but he lost to Culkin in all three ceremonies. Culkin’s frontrunner status solidified when he won against Denzel Washington’s performance as Macrinus at the 2025 Golden Globes. Surprisingly, Washington did not receive an Oscar nomination for this role, despite his strong performance.
While Culkin was cast in the supporting role of A Real Pain alongside Jesse Eisenberg in the lead role, he managed to steal the spotlight with his passionate and versatile performance as the free-spirited Benji Kaplan. Culkin not only triumphed over Strong at the 2025 Oscars but also beat out Guy Pearce in The Brutalist, Yuri Borisov in Anora, and Edward Norton in A Complete Unknown. With Saldaña’s win in the Best Supporting Actress category, both she and Culkin achieved the rare feat of a complete awards season sweep.
How Kieran Culkin Used His Oscars Acceptance Speech To Honor Jeremy Strong
Culkin’s acceptance speech at the 2025 Oscars was filled with subtle references to his “Succession” co-star, Jeremy Strong, highlighting their shared history, Emmy wins, and complimenting Strong’s performance in “The Apprentice.” After receiving the Oscar from last year’s winner, Robert Downey Jr., Culkin looked directly at Strong and said, “Jeremy, you’re amazing in ‘The Apprentice.’ I love you,” before his microphone was silenced due to a swear word, true to Culkin’s style. “I’m not supposed to single anyone out, but you were great,” he added, as the camera captured Strong’s appreciative reaction on Oscar night.
