Macaulay Culkin Delivers Heartfelt Emmys Tribute to His ‘Home Alone’ Mom Catherine O’Hara

Award show tributes carry a particular kind of weight when the person being honored spent decades shaping the emotional core of the industry itself. Catherine O’Hara built exactly that kind of legacy across five decades in comedy, moving seamlessly between beloved holiday classics, cult mockumentaries, and one of the most acclaimed sitcoms of the modern era.

Her passing back in January at age 71, following a brief illness, sent ripples through Hollywood that extended far beyond her immediate collaborators. Tributes poured in from figures like Eugene Levy, Pedro Pascal, and Lily Tomlin, each reflecting on the singular warmth and comedic precision O’Hara brought to every role she took on.

That outpouring of love reached a new emotional peak this week. Macaulay Culkin joined ‘Schitt’s Creek’ stars Dan Levy and Annie Murphy on stage at the 2026 Emmy Awards to honor O’Hara as part of the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment, delivering a tribute that left much of the room visibly moved.

Culkin, who played O’Hara’s son Kevin McCallister in the original ‘Home Alone’ and its sequel, opened his remarks by playing on the very role that made their pairing iconic. He began by saying that people remember her as the forgetful mother from the films, but that he would never forget her, before listing the words he felt truly captured who she was.

Culkin went on to say that Catherine was more than just a wife to her husband, Bo Welch, and mother to their sons, Matthew and Luke, telling the audience that she was his mom too, and by extension, “our mama.” He then reflected on how she consistently showed up for him over the decades, closing his portion of the tribute by saying, “She may have forgotten me twice, but we will always remember her,” a nod to the two ‘Home Alone‘ films where her character famously left him behind.

Catherine O’Hara’s on-screen children Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy pay tribute to her at the #Emmys:

“She was our mama.” pic.twitter.com/PgbwPSDp8w

— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 15, 2026

Dan Levy followed with his own reflection, encouraging the audience to embrace the same generosity O’Hara brought to her work and relationships, referencing her legendary turn as Moira Rose on ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ the role that ultimately earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series back in 2020. The tribute closed with a personal touch from Culkin, who urged viewers watching at home to call their own mothers that night.

O’Hara’s career stretched from her early work on ‘SCTV’ through decades of collaborations with Christopher Guest, before reaching a new generation of fans through her Emmy-winning performance on ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ That range, spanning sketch comedy, mockumentary classics, and prestige television, is part of what made her passing feel like such a significant loss across so many corners of the entertainment industry.

Culkin’s relationship with O’Hara extended well beyond their shared screen time, with the two staying close over the years following the release of the ‘Home Alone’ films. She even appeared alongside him in 2023 when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, sharing warm reflections on their decades-long connection during the ceremony.

For fans who grew up watching either the McCallister family’s chaotic holiday adventures or the Rose family’s fish-out-of-water sitcom charm, this Emmys tribute offered a rare moment where two very different eras of O’Hara’s career came together on the same stage. It was a fitting send-off for an actress whose work continues to define comedy across generations.

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