Kieran Culkin has admitted. The “A Real Pain” and “Succession” star admitted that he once replaced a prop joint with one laced with real marijuana when he was cast in a stage production alongside Mark Ruffalo in 2000.
“I was 17 and I was stupid,” Culkin said in a new interview with The Guardian. “I’m like, ‘I thought that was a good joke.’ “I’m stupid. Oh my God, I’m so sorry. But actually, they loved it. I haven’t smoked weed in 10 years,” says Mark. “The second half will be a lot of fun. There was another actor who had never smoked weed in her life. ” Is this the high?” That’s nice. Then Phyllis Newman comes in and says, ‘I haven’t smoked weed since the 1960s.’ Thank you, honey.”
Culkin, Ruffalo and their co-stars appeared in the Playwright Horizons production of James Lapine’s play “The Moment When” at the time.
“The stage manager comes over and says: ‘I don’t care who it is, or what happened, but Kieran, give me the joint.’ She sheepishly handed her the cockroach and said: ‘Ruin your life in your own time.’ ‘I know, I know. But I was young. I am 42 now. I know better. “I’m not going to try to make anyone get too high on stage.”
For Ruffalo’s part, the actor had previously alluded to the incident in an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. Despite this, Ruffalo kept Culkin’s identity a secret.
“There was a play I did where I smoked weed in the first scene. Of course, there was a very naughty young actor I was in the play with. “On opening night, with all the critics, we put a real joint on the prop table,” Ruffalo said at the time. “Between the two of us, we smoked a huge cigarette on stage. …But at the end of the play, I got the best reviews of my entire career. But I won’t do it again.”
Culkin is currently on the tour promoting Jesse Eisenberg’s comedy “A Real Pain.” Culkin was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the Supporting Actor category for his role in the film.