I Want What They Have: Kieran Culkin and Jazz Charton

Love is a multifaceted gem, shining ever brightly when observed from the sidelines. In this column, we explore celebrity couples who ignite our aspirations for romance, learning valuable lessons from their well-documented relationships.

My admiration for Kieran Culkin escalated dramatically thanks to his performance in Succession. It’s not difficult to articulate these feelings—after all, he’s not only a strikingly handsome actor but also stands proudly as a self-proclaimed “short king” at 5’6”. Yet, it’s Culkin’s character Roman Roy and his cheeky exchanges with J. Smith-Cameron’s Gerri Kellman that truly sparked an appreciation for what I once thought of as vulnerability wrapped in playful banter.

Interest in Culkin has only intensified as he and his wife of over a decade, advertising specialist Jazz Charton, have becoming a notable duo in the public eye, particularly since their appearance at the Emmy Awards last year. Upon winning the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama for his role in Succession, he joyfully acknowledged, “My beautiful wife, Jazz, thank you for sharing your life with me, and for giving me two amazing kids,” and teasingly added, “And Jazz, I want more. You said maybe, if I win.” Fast forward approximately a year and nine months later, and Charton is expecting their third child—a piece of news that she joyfully announced on Instagram with a captivating bump-reveal post featuring the caption, “Saw Keanu Reeves on Broadway and now I’m 9 months pregnant ❤️,” following an outing with Culkin at the Broadway opening of Waiting for Godot.

While I’m cautious about giving men undue credit merely for appearing to cherish their families publicly (I mean, it is an expectation for a partner to enjoy time with their family!), it is refreshing to witness a couple enthusiastically embark on the journey of family growth. Given the current societal pressures surrounding parenthood and the challenges many families face, regardless of their political stance, it’s heartening to observe such genuine excitement in Culkin and Charton about expanding their family. Admittedly, their journey may be easier due to their wealth and fame, but at the end of the day, diapers are diapers, rich or not!

Another reason I find Culkin and Charton’s partnership appealing is their refusal to portray an unrealistic family dynamic. Charton once humorously admitted on Instagram, “Proud would be an understatement. So lucky to see this impressive man achieve his dreams—even while our kids deprive me of sleep and just general quality of life.” She humorously added about attending the after-party for Saturday Night Live, “Going to the after-party was a mistake.”