Kieran Culkin reveals his Oscar-winning turn in A Real Pain came with an unexpected twist. Culkin starred in Jesse Eisenberg’s critically acclaimed dramedy, which follows cousins Benji and David Kaplan reconnecting with their familial roots—and each other—while backpacking through Poland. Culkin has now won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and last night’s Spirit Award, all for his performance as Benji, the brash and unpredictable counterpart to Eisenberg’s David. Follow all of ScreenRant’s Oscars coverage as the complete list of 2025 Oscars winners is revealed.

ScreenRant‘s Tatiana Hullender is in the winners’ press room at the 2025 Oscars, where Culkin revealed Benji was unknowingly modeled on someone in his real life. Although he did not reveal who it was, his wife “said his name in [his] ear” when watching the film together in theaters. Read what he had to say below:

It definitely, it felt different immediately. The script was incredibly тιԍнт that I didn’t want to rehearse it or talk about it or anything. It just felt like was the first time I ever read something and went, “I fully understand this guy. I don’t even want to read again.” I wanted to show up on the day and go, “What scene are we doing? Oh yes, this one,” and the words [would get] here really quickly, because they were so well-written.

That was a fun new approach, and it felt like I knew who this guy was, but I couldn’t identify it. I didn’t want to identify it, because right away, while reading it, I’m like, “I know who this guy is. I’m just gonna leave it and just do it.” It wasn’t until almost a year later, when I watched it that I was like, “Oh, my God, I know someone exactly like this. I didn’t realize I was doing that.” The moment I realized that my wife leaned over in the theater [and] said his name in my ear, and I was like, “You’re right. I’m totally doing him, and I didn’t even know!”

That kind of unusual experience? I’ve never had that before.

What Kieran Culkin’s Inspiration Behind Benji Means

Culkin’s Performance Feels Too Real For A Reason

Actors often draw from real life to shape their performances, but in Culkin’s case, the inspiration was an entirely subconscious mimicry of someone he knew. This revelation highlights just how naturally he inhabited the grief-stricken role, making Benji feel like a fully realized person. ScreenRant‘s Mae Abdulbaki’s review of A Real Pain praised the actor’s raw portrayal of the emotionally volatile Kaplan cousin, saying:

Kieran Culkin provides most of the moments of levity, and he’s great at playing a chaotic but wounded man, the brightness behind his eyes dimmed because of the hurt he doesn’t express.

Having already proven his dramatic and comedic prowess with HBO’s Succession playing Roman Roy, a role that won him an Emmy, two Critics Choice Awards and a Golden Globe, Culkin continues to bring a heartfelt affinity to his sardonic and often obscene characters. The actor nonetheless faced stiff compeтιтion in the Best Supporting Actor category. At the 2025 Oscars, he was up against Yura Borisov (Anora), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), and his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice). With this win, Culkin proves that his niche is one that continues to captivate.

Our Take On Kieran Culkin’s Inspiration For Benji

Will Culkin Reveal His Mystery Muse?

Culkin delivers his signature range of emotion and cynical wit to his performance, making Benji both unpredictable and heartbreakingly real. His revelation raises an intriguing question—who was he unknowingly channeling in A Real Pain? If his wife instantly recognized the person, it must be someone they both know well, perhaps a close friend, a family member, or even another actor. Whoever inspired Benji, they played an unintentional role in Culkin’s well-earned Oscar win.