Kieran Culkin Opens Up About Grief 16 Years After The Loss Of His Sister

There are few things in life more painful than losing a loved one. Even as time passes, our heartache begins to heal, but life is never the same. Kieran Culkin understands this profound pain more than a decade after the death of his sister, Dakota. The Succession star recently sat down with CBS Sunday Morning, opening up about the struggle of losing a sibling.

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Kieran explained that he and his six siblings lived in Manhattan, and he would often count how many kids got in the door. He also made sure they were all in bed at night. He called it a “wolfpack mentality.” Losing his sister, a vital pack member, changed Kieran Culkin.  

“That’s how I remember growing up, too. I couldn’t fall asleep until they all fell asleep. Like, I only existed because they did around me,” he said.

Dakota died in 2008 at age 29 following a tragic accident in California where a car struck her as she crossed the street. Kieran Culkin explained to CBS Sunday Morning that he helped channel his sister’s spirit to improve his Succession character.

“After a couple seasons on Succession, I realized there was some stuff that Roman did that I was like, ‘Oh, that’s my sister. That was her sense of humor,'” he said. “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.”

Kiernan Culkin will never forget his sister or how she helped shape him.

“I only knew who I was because of who my siblings are,” Kiernan said of Dakota. “So, to lose one was losing a big piece of myself. Losing one of my favorite people in the world. It doesn’t get easier. But you get used to it.”

This story’s featured image is by lev radin via Shutterstock.