Macaulay Culkin Breaks Hearts Honoring ‘Home Alone’ Mom Catherine O’Hara
Macaulay Culkin led the heartfelt tributes after the death of Catherine O’Hara, his Home Alone on-screen mom. The legendary actress passed away Friday at her Los Angeles home at the age of 71 following a brief illness, her agency CAA confirmed. O’Hara was celebrated for decades of iconic work, including Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek, and Beetlejuice.
Culkin posted an emotional message on Instagram, honoring the woman who played such a central role in his childhood and career. Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later, he wrote, sharing his grief with millions of fans.
Other actors and collaborators also expressed their sorrow. Dan Levy, who worked with O’Hara on Schitt’s Creek, called her brilliance a gift. What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years, he said. Pedro Pascal, who acted with her on HBO’s The Last of Us, posted a behind-the-scenes photo, writing, Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always.
Seth Rogen, who worked with O’Hara on the Apple TV+ series The Studio, recalled how much she inspired him. I told O’Hara when I first met her I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen, he said. She made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating.
O’Hara remained highly active in her career until the end. She earned an Emmy nomination for her role as Patty Leigh in The Studio and recently had a role in the second season of The Last of Us, where she plays Gail, a sharp and complex psychotherapist. She also reprised her role as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and voiced Pinktail in the animated film The Wild Robot.
She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke. O’Hara’s legacy continues through her early work with the SCTV troupe, her collaborations with Eugene Levy, and the countless roles that brought laughter and joy to audiences around the world.
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