Catherine O'Hara remembered by on-screen children at Emmys
Catherine O'Hara, the beloved actress known for Schitt's Creek and Home Alone, was honoured during the In Memoriam segment at the Emmy Awards on Monday night, with tributes from three of her most famous on-screen children.
Macaulay Culkin, Dan Levy and Annie Murphy took to the stage to remember the award-winning actress, who passed away on 30 January at the age of 71 from a pulmonary embolism following a cancer diagnosis.
What did Macaulay Culkin say about Catherine O'Hara?
Culkin, who played O'Hara's son in the first two Home Alone films, opened the tribute, describing her as “encouraging, warm and funny.”
“She wasn't just a wife and mother to Bo and Matthew and Luke. She was my mum. She was our mama,” he said.
He continued: “And by extension, she's all of our mama. By the way, call your mother tonight. Give it up for mums.”
Referencing the Home Alone plotline, he added: “She may have forgotten me... twice. But we will always remember her.”
How did Annie Murphy and Dan Levy pay tribute?
Murphy, who played her daughter Alexis in Schitt's Creek, described O'Hara's laugh as a “perpetual yes”, adding that it “challenged anyone who heard it to join in and be as delighted as she was.”
She shared a series of anecdotes about people approaching her after O'Hara's death, including a note passed on an Air Canada flight, a hug from a gruff-looking gas station attendant, and a lively mashup at the LCBO.
Levy, who played O'Hara's son David on Schitt's Creek, shared that the “greatest lesson” he learnt from her was to “always say yes” to everything, both professionally and personally.
“Say yes to her dinner invites and her stories and her wisdom and her generosity. Those are the things you will hold onto the tightest,” he said.
Who else was honoured in the Emmys In Memoriam segment?
Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan performed Paul Simon's Bridge Over Troubled Water during the segment, which also paid tribute to Dolly Parton, director Rob Reiner, actress Hayden Panettiere, and actors James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane.
Jamie Lee Curtis honoured her The Bear and New Girl co-star Reiner, describing him as “generous and kind and funny as hell.” Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead from apparent stab wounds in their Los Angeles home last December.
Reba McEntire performed Parton's song Appalachian Memories to honour the country music singer, who died aged 80 on August 25. Sally Field, who starred with Parton in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, introduced the tribute.
“She was genuine and humble, supportive and blisteringly funny with a bawdy sense of humour that would send any rude guy looking for a place to hide,” Field said.
“God bless you Dolly Parton, my friend. I am not the only one on Earth that will love you forever and ever.”
What is Catherine O'Hara's legacy?
O'Hara is survived by her husband, production designer and director Bo Welch, and their sons Matthew and Luke. Her impact on audiences worldwide was evident in the outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans alike.
As Murphy noted: “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. That was because she brought us joy.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Catherine O'Hara die?
Catherine O'Hara died on 30 January 2026 at the age of 71 from a pulmonary embolism following a cancer diagnosis.
Who are Catherine O'Hara's surviving family members?
She is survived by her husband, production designer and director Bo Welch, and their sons Matthew and Luke.
What was Catherine O'Hara best known for?
She was best known for her roles in Schitt's Creek and the Home Alone films.