Macaulay Culkin, Dan Levy, Annie Murphy honour Catherine O'Hara at Emmy Awards

Macaulay Culkin, Dan Levy, and Annie Murphy took the stage at the 2026 Emmy Awards to honour Catherine O'Hara during the In Memoriam segment—a touching tribute to the 10-time Emmy-nominated Canadian actress who died in January at 71.

Culkin, who played Kevin McCallister in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), called O'Hara—who played his on-screen mother—essential to his life. "She was my mom. She was our mama, and by extension, she's all of our mama," he said on stage. He reflected on her warmth, humour, and generosity, and the lasting impact she had on him throughout their years working together.

Annie Murphy, who played O'Hara's daughter on Schitt's Creek, recalled a moment after her death when she was on an Air Canada flight. "I was passed a note on an Air Canada flight that said, 'She was so special. I hope you're doing okay,'" Murphy said. She went on to describe encounters with strangers—a grieving gas station attendant, an LCBO cashier—who offered her hugs during that difficult time. "These are only a few of the interactions I've been lucky enough to have that remind me how profoundly Catherine has impacted the world. It's because she brought us joy."

Dan Levy, who played Moira Rose's son David on Schitt's Creek, shared a lesson he learned from O'Hara: always say yes. "Say yes to giving her space to experiment and create. It will amaze you on a daily basis, and it will change your life. Say yes to her dinner invites, her stories, her wisdom, and her generosity. Those are the things you will hold on to the tightest."

The tribute moved the audience to tears, with cameras capturing misty-eyed stars including Martin Short, Steve Martin, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Brenda Strong, who is married to Culkin.

Throughout her career, O'Hara won two Emmys. The first came in 1982 for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for SCTV Network, followed nearly four decades later in 2020 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek. In 2025, shortly before her death, she received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for The Studio.