2024 Emmys: Succession's Kieran Culkin Wins Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama

Culkin wins for his performance of Roman Roy in the HBO hit's final season.

By Jenna Anderson

The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards took place on Monday night, making waves throughout the world of television in the process. A number of memorable performances were celebrated — including the winner of in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Succession's Kieran Culkin took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for his portrayal of Roman Roy in the recently-wrapped HBO series.

The other nominees in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmy category included Jeff Bridges for The Old Man, Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul, Pedro Pascal for The Last of Us, and Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong for Succession. 

Will Succession Get a Season 5?

Succession came to a close last year, earning a smattering of critical acclaim and a lot of fervor from fans. HBO has not confirmed any sort of spinoff series for Succession, although Culkin has offered his own take on the endgame for his character, Roman Roy.

"None of the siblings are in a particularly good place at the end. I've heard that interpretation, and I think that's interesting," Culkin revealed in an interview last year. "A lot of people just go, 'Well, he's got tons of money — he'll be fine!' Which just isn't really the case for these people. I don't think it's as simple as, 'Well, I guess I've got my riches and my martini, I'm fine.' I don't think he's OK."

"I think he has evolved as a person. I don't think he's gained nothing from this," Culkin continued. "The thing that gets me, even at the end of Season 3, was if Roman's cut out of the company, and there's no reason for him specifically to come to the office and interact with his siblings, they don't have the capacity to say, 'Hey, I miss you. Let's get together and hang out.' I think he not only just genuinely loves his family, I think he needs them. Now that it's done, and he's out, and they're all out: When is he going to see them again? Who does he have? He has fucking nobody. That's it. And siblings are out there, somewhere. And it's not like we're gonna get together for a beer. He's very much alone. Have you ever seen Roman with a friend?"

Why Did Succession End?

In an interview last year, Succession creator Jesse Armstrong explained the choice to end the series with Season 4.

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"We could have said it as soon as I sort of decided, almost when we were writing it, which I think would be weird and perverse," Armstrong explained. "We could have said it at the end of the season. I quite like that idea, creatively, because then the audience is just able to enjoy everything as it comes, without trying to figure things out, or perceiving things in a certain way once they know it's the final season. But, also, the countervailing thought is that we don't hide the ball very much on the show. I feel a responsibility to the viewership, and I personally wouldn't like the feeling of, "Oh, that's it. guys. That was the end." I wouldn't like that in a show. I think I would like to know it is coming to an end. And, also, there's a bunch of prosaic things, like it might be weird for me and the cast as we do interviews. It's pretty definitively the end, so then it just might be uncomfortable having to sort of dissemble like a politician for ages about it. Hopefully, the show is against bullshit, and I wouldn't like to be bullshitting anyone when I was talking about it."

What do you think of the winner for the 75th Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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