Catherine O’Hara was remembered at the 78th Emmy Awards by three actors who played her children on screen, with Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy delivering a heartfelt tribute to the late actress.
O’Hara died in January at the age of 71. She played Culkin’s mother in Home Alone before taking on the role of Moira Rose, mother to Murphy’s Alexis and Levy’s David, in Schitt’s Creek.
Culkin opened the tribute by describing O’Hara as “encouraging”, “warm” and “funny”. He also spoke about their bond beyond their professional relationship.
“She was my mom. She was our mama,” Culkin said. “But like a good mama, she always showed up when I asked her to. Because that was Catherine. That’s what she did. She showed up.”
He ended his tribute by urging viewers to call their mothers.
Murphy then remembered O’Hara’s distinctive laugh, describing it as a “perpetual ‘yes’” that encouraged those around her to embrace joy.
She also shared several encounters with strangers after O’Hara’s death that showed the actress’s lasting connection with audiences. Murphy recalled receiving a sympathetic note from a fellow passenger on an Air Canada flight, being hugged by a grieving gas station attendant and meeting a fan who enthusiastically recreated some of O’Hara’s best-known performances.
“These are only a very few of the interactions I’ve been lucky enough to have that remind me how profoundly Catherine has impacted the world,” Murphy said.
Levy delivered the final part of the tribute, recalling the “greatest lesson” he learnt from O’Hara: to “always say yes”, both in work and in life.
“Say yes to giving her space to experiment and create. It will amaze you on a daily basis, and it will change your life,” Levy said.
He also remembered O’Hara’s dinner invitations, stories, wisdom and generosity. He urged people to “always say yes to any opportunity to revel in the presence of greatness.”
O’Hara’s agency, CAA, announced her death. She died at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness.
The Canadian actress had a career spanning more than five decades across film and television. Her best-known works included Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show and Schitt’s Creek.
