‘She was our mama’: Catherine O’Hara honoured by her on-screen children at Emmys

Catherine O’Hara was remembered at the 78th Emmy Awards by three actors who played her children on screen — Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy — in a heartfelt tribute to the late actress.

O’Hara, who died in January at the age of 71, played Culkin’s mother in “Home Alone” and later starred as Moira Rose, mother to Murphy’s Alexis and Levy’s David, in “Schitt’s Creek”.

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Culkin opened the tribute by remembering O’Hara as “encouraging”, “warm” and “funny”, reflecting on a relationship that extended beyond their work together.

“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 remarks by encouraging those watching to call their mothers.

Murphy then reflected on O’Hara’s distinctive laugh, describing it as a “perpetual ‘yes’” that encouraged everyone around her to share in her joy.

She also recalled encounters with strangers following O’Hara’s death that showed how deeply the actress had connected with audiences. Murphy said she received a note from a fellow passenger on an Air Canada flight expressing sympathy, was hugged by a grieving gas station attendant and encountered a fan enthusiastically recreating 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 that the “greatest lesson” he learnt from O’Hara was to “always say yes”, both professionally and personally.

“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, adding, “Always say yes to any opportunity to revel in the presence of greatness.”

O’Hara’s death was announced by her agency, CAA. 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, with performances in “Home Alone”, “Beetlejuice”, “Best in Show” and “Schitt’s Creek” among her best-known work.