Kieran Culkin’s Oscars moment highlights the power of permanent things

When Kieran Culkin won the Oscar for best supporting actor, he reached the pinnacle of his profession. It was a crowning achievement, the kind of moment many actors dream about but few ever experience.

Onstage, basking in the thrill of well-earned success, Culkin had the entertainment world at his feet. But instead of dwelling on his triumph or making a political statement, his thoughts went somewhere far more profound. He turned to his wife and joked about a deal they once made: If he won an Oscar, she promised they would have four children.