Catherine O'Hara Remembered by 'Home Alone' and 'Schitt's Creek' Co-Stars at Emmys
Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy paid tribute to the late Catherine O'Hara at the 2026 Emmy Awards. Culkin, who starred with her in 'Home Alone,' affectionately called her 'our mom' and urged the audience to appreciate their own mothers. Murphy and Levy, her 'Schitt's Creek' co-stars, celebrated her infectious laugh and her willingness to embrace creative instincts.
The tribute unfolded just before the In Memoriam segment, with Noah Kahan performing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as a musical backdrop. O'Hara's Emmy legacy included two wins tied to her role on "Schitt's Creek," where she played the mother of characters portrayed by both Murphy and Levy. Levy, who created the series, had earlier described the honor as "bittersweet" during NBC's preshow, noting the surreal nature of paying tribute to someone so recently gone.
Culkin's remarks leaned heavily on the "Home Alone" connection, where O'Hara played his forgetful on-screen mother across two films. His Catholic upbringing reference and repeated calls for the audience to contact their own mothers underscored the maternal theme. Levy's tribute highlighted specific creative details, including O'Hara's habit of emailing script rewrites the night before filming and her insistence on naming wigs and wearing them as hats.
This tribute could resonate deeply with audiences who grew up with O'Hara's iconic roles across generations, from "Home Alone" to "Schitt's Creek." Such public memorials may reinforce the emotional bonds viewers form with beloved performers, potentially driving renewed interest in her filmography. The emphasis on mentorship and creative risk-taking could also inspire industry professionals to reflect on collaborative relationships, while reminding general audiences of the lasting cultural footprint entertainers leave behind.