- The former child star, 42, said he was filming an unspecified commercial in 1989
- He opened up about the traumatic experience on the Smartless podcast
- He said the unnamed director called him a “dummy” and an “idiot.”
Kieran Culkin has revealed that a director branded him ‘stupid’ during his very first acting job when he was just six years old.
The former child star, now 42, was filming a commercial for “something to do with learning disabilities” when things went wrong on set.
During the commercial, he played a child who couldn’t solve an “easy” problem at school.
His classmates were supposed to make fun of him for it, but when the principal started scolding him, Kieran was shocked.
Speaking to Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett on the latest episode of the Smartless podcast, Kieran opened up about the traumatic experience.
He said: ‘The concept was: I’m standing in front of a blackboard with chalk in my hand and I don’t know how to solve the easy problem in front of me.
“And the kids in the class would have to call me a dummy and an idiot, things like that.
“I have a clear memory of the moment I was there and the director said, ‘Okay, action.’ And he starts saying, ‘Dummy. Idiot. Stupid.'”
Kieran Culkin has revealed that a director branded him ‘stupid’ during his very first acting job when he was just six years old. He was seen earlier this month
The former child star, now 42, was filming a commercial for “something to do with learning disabilities” when things went wrong on set. He was seen with his brother in 1990
The anecdote left the podcast hosts shocked, with Kieran further noting that even at the age of six, he realized it was a strange move from the director.
He added, “I’m like, ‘I get it. I’m six. Stand here and look sad. I’m not a damn method [acting]. I’m six. What’s wrong with you?”
He did not reveal who the director was.
Following his role in the commercial, Kieran starred alongside his older brother Macaulay Culkin in the 1990 Christmas film Home Alone and its 1992 sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
While Macaulay led the cast as the precocious Kevin McAllister, Kieran, who was seven at the time, had a small supporting role as Kevin’s bed-wetting cousin Fuller.
His other early acting credits include 1991’s Father of the Bride and 1995’s Father of the Bride Part II.
In 1991, Kieran also appeared on Saturday Night Live when his brother Macaulay hosted.
Kieran has been married to his wife Jazz Charton since 2013 and together they share two children: a daughter called Kinsey, five, and a son called Wilder, three.
During the commercial, he would play a child who couldn’t solve an “easy” problem at school. But when the director started scolding him, Kieran (front left) was left shocked
Kieran didn’t mention the director who called him an ‘idiot’ as a child
Earlier this month he revealed why he hasn’t let his kids watch Home Alone.
“There are still some scary parts,” Kieran told E! News at The Gothams’ 34th Annual Film Awards in New York City.
‘For the three-year-old there is the tarantula [and] there’s the guy at the end who said, “I’m going to bite off all your fingers.”
“That’s scary for a three-year-old.”
However, Kieran added that the time for change may be just around the corner, teasing: ‘We think they might be ready for Home Alone this year. If not, next year.’