At the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday night, Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara, who died on January 30 at age 71.
Culkin, Murphy, and Levy honored O’Hara as a maternal figure during the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment. Culkin, who starred alongside O’Hara in the Home Alone films, described her as his "mama" and praised her enduring presence in his life decades after their collaborations. "She wasn’t just a wife to Bo (Welch) and mother to Matthew and Luke," Culkin said. "She was my mom. She was our mama, and by extension, she’s all of our mama."
Murphy and Levy shared personal reflections about O’Hara’s impact on their careers and lives. Murphy highlighted O’Hara’s distinctive laugh and the joy she brought to fans worldwide, while Levy recounted how O’Hara taught him to "always say yes." The tribute concluded with a performance of Simon & Garfunkel’s "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Noah Kahan, accompanied by images of industry figures who passed away this year.
O’Hara, known for her comedic roles in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, was remembered for her warmth, humor, and generosity. Culkin noted that despite forgetting him twice during their collaborations, he and others would "always remember her."
The tribute underscored O’Hara’s legacy as both a beloved actress and a cherished mentor to her co-stars.