Eric André has recently opened up about one of his biggest professional regrets: turning down a role in A Real Pain, the film that eventually earned Kieran Culkin an Oscar. During his appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on April 7, André revealed that he had been offered the part but ultimately passed on the opportunity, a decision he now considers the “biggest mistake of my entire career.”
Eric André Reflects on “A Real Pain”
André admitted that when he first read the script for the film, he wasn’t sold on it. “I was working on something else when I read the script,” he explained. “It was like 120 pages about two Jews babbling about the Holocaust, and that seemed a bit depressing to me upon first read. And I was like, ‘You know what? I’m a comedian; I want to stay in my lane as a comedian.'” He wasn’t sure if the movie fit his brand, especially since the subject matter felt a little too heavy for his comedic sensibilities.
“A Real Pain” Oscar Success
Despite his initial hesitation, André acknowledged the talent of the film’s cast, including both Culkin and the director, Jesse Eisenberg. “They’re incredibly talented,” he said, adding that he had a deep respect for their work. The film, which Culkin starred in alongside Eisenberg, went on to secure multiple accolades, including Culkin’s Best Supporting Actor win at the 2025 Academy Awards.
Kimmel, curious about André’s decision, asked if he had actually read the whole script before turning down the role. André was candid, admitting that he didn’t get far. “I read like the first 10 pages,” he confessed. “Who reads a script? You know how boring it is reading a script? It’s excruciating. Feels like school in summertime. All the Adderall in the world couldn’t get me to read a single script.”
Looking back, André couldn’t help but laugh at his own choice, but still regarded it as a mistake in hindsight. “It was the biggest mistake of my entire career,” he said, a sentiment he made clear to Kimmel and the audience.
As for Culkin, the actor’s Oscar win was a defining moment in his career. Culkin had already won big at the BAFTAs, SAG Awards, and Golden Globes, but the Academy Award cemented his status as one of Hollywood’s most talented actors. In his acceptance speech, Culkin shared a humorous and heartfelt story about his wife, Jazz Charton, and the promise she had made to him. “I held my hand out. She took it, and I have not brought it up once, until just now,” he joked about their agreement to expand their family if he won the Oscar.
André’s candid reflection on his decision provides an interesting glimpse into the unpredictability of Hollywood, where a single choice—whether to read a script or not—can ultimately change the trajectory of a career. “A Real Pain” is streaming on Hulu.
