Gone but never forgotten. That is exactly what applies well to someone like Catherine O' Hara. And Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy's tribute to her at the Emmys 2026 is a testament of that. She left behind a career that stretched across generations, genres, and some of the most beloved movies and television shows of the past five decades.

From sketch comedy and cult classics to blockbuster family films and acclaimed sitcoms, O’Hara became known for creating characters that were impossible to forget. Her work connected her with audiences around the world, while her warmth and creativity also made a lasting impression on the performers who had the opportunity to work alongside her throughout her remarkable career.

And at the 2026 Emmys, Culkin, Murphy, and Levy made sure that everyone remembered the woman who had played their mother.

During the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, Macaulay Culkin, Dan Levy and Annie Murphy paid tribute to Catherine O’Hara during the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment. O’Hara died in January 2026 at the age of 71, and the three actors who had played her children on screen came together to reflect on the impact she had on their lives.

Culkin, who played O’Hara’s son Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, spoke about the actress as more than simply his on-screen mother and was very emotional while talking about her.

 "We remember her as a forgetful mother, right? But we will never forget about her," he said.  Culkin described her as "encouraging," "warm" and "funny" before calling her his “mama.” He also recalled how O’Hara continued to show up for him long after their Home Alone movies, turning their professional relationship into a lifelong friendship.  

Murphy and Levy each remembered O’Hara in their own way. Murphy spoke about the wave of affection she encountered from strangers following O’Hara’s death, recalling a note passed to her on an Air Canada flight, a hug from a gas station attendant, and even a spontaneous O’Hara character mashup performed while she was buying wine. To Murphy, those moments showed just how deeply O’Hara had touched people, because, as she put it, the actress “brought us joy.”

Levy, meanwhile, focused on O’Hara’s fearless creativity and the biggest lesson he learned from her: to “always say yes.” He recalled saying yes to her instincts, her rewrites and her unconventional ideas for Moira Rose, including the famous wig wall and her experiments with costumes and wigs. Levy also remembered her generosity away from the set, urging people to say yes to her dinner invitations, stories and wisdom — the things he said they would hold onto most.

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The emotional tribute offered a glimpse into the personal relationships O’Hara built behind the characters audiences knew so well. But her influence went far beyond the roles that made her famous.

Catherine O’Hara’s career began with SCTV, where she worked as a writer and performer and earned her first Emmy. She later became a fixture in Christopher Guest’s celebrated mockumentaries, including Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration.

Her movie career also included unforgettable performances as Kate McCallister in the Home Alone films and Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice. Later, O’Hara experienced another career-defining chapter as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, earning an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020. She subsequently appeared in projects including The Last of Us and The Studio.

From her earliest comedy work to her final performances, O’Hara consistently brought an unmistakable sense of individuality to her characters. At the 2026 Emmys, her on-screen children reminded viewers that behind those unforgettable performances was someone who had also become a beloved “mama” to the people who knew her best.

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What do you think about Emmy tribute to Catherine O' Hara by her reel children? Let us know in the comments.