Charlotte Minter
Published January 30, 2026 7:27pm
Updated January 30, 2026 9:01pm
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Macaulay Culkin paid tribute to his on-screen mother (Picture: Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin has paid tribute to his on-screen ‘mama’, Catherine O’Hara, in an Instagram post.
Hollywood legend O’Hara died at the age of 71, following a ‘brief illness’.
The world has reacted in shock to the actress’ death, and many are mourning her loss.
O’Hara played Culkin’s Mum, Kate McCallister, in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), famously leaving her fictional son Kevin (Culkin) behind on family trips – twice.
She also starred in Schitt’s Creek as former soap-opera star Moira Rose. The show ran for six seasons, airing from 2015 to 2020.
Writing on his Instagram, Culkin said: ‘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.’
Culkin’s moving Instagram post showed the pair then and now (Picture: culkamania)
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Previous Page Next PageCulkin was 10-years-old when he shot to fame as Kevin in the 1990 film that kick-started his career as a child actor.
In 2023 the actor received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was reunited with O’Hara who gave a speech at the ceremony.
She began: ‘Home Alone was, is and always will be a beloved global sensation.
‘The reason families all over the world can’t let a year go by without watching and loving Home Alone together is because of Macaulay Culkin.’
O’Hara talked about him as a ‘beautiful, dear little 10-year-old boy’ who ‘was called a superstar, a moneymaker, one of the hottest leading young men in Hollywood by the world over.’
She asked: ‘How does anyone survive that?
It was an emotional reunion, over 30 years after they starred together (Picture: Anna Webber/Variety via Getty Images)
‘Well, I believe you’d have to possess a certain quality, a gift that dear [Home Alone writer-producer] John Hughes obviously recognised in you, Macaulay: your sense of humour.
‘It’s a sign of intelligence in a child, and a key to surviving life at any age. And from what I see, you have brought this sweet, yet twisted, yet totally relatable sense of humour to everything that you have chosen to do since Home Alone.’
Concluding her speech, O’Hara said: ‘Macauley, you so deserve your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and thank you for including me – your fake mom who left you home alone not once, but twice – to share in this happy occasion.
‘I’m so proud of you’.
After O’Hara wiped away Culkin’s tears the two shared an emotional embrace.
Recounting how Culkin asked her to be part of his ceremony, O’Hara spoke on Sunday Today: ‘Out of the blue, he asked me.
O’Hara told Culkin she was ‘so proud’ of him at the ceremony for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Picture: Anna Webber/Variety via Getty Images)
‘And my first reaction was: “Aww.” I told my husband: “Aww.” It just was the sweetest idea.’
She recalled that on the day he ‘seemed so happy’ and noted his ‘lovely fiancée’ and ‘two sweet kids.’
Despite making reference to the fact that she was there as his ‘fake mom’, O’Hara said she was mistaken as for his real mother at the event.
The Beetlejuice actress remembered: ‘Then he puts his arm around, he goes: “Oh no, my mom wasn’t able to make it,”‘, to which she replied ‘”Well then, I’m honoured to be here. Thank you.”‘
Fans have shown support for Culkin in his Instagram comments, and joined in paying tribute to the late actress.
@bennettonpurpose wrote: ‘Thinking of you and all her family on and off screen today.’
Culkin still called O’Hara ‘Mom’ (Picture: Allocca/Starpix/Shutterstock)
While @drewskkiiii said: ‘Not me crying like a baby reading your caption. I am truly heartbroken. We all grew up with Catherine. She will forever be in the hearts of millions.’
Others, like @karl_queensborough, reflected: ‘I’m so glad she got to see you get your Hollywood star.’
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During an interview that Culkin did in 2024 with The New York Times, Culkin revealed that he still called O’Hara ‘Mom’ whenever he saw her.
He added: ‘And she opens up her arms – she goes: “Son”.’
According to People Magazine, in 1990 O’Hara described nine-year-old Culkin to the publication as ‘a darling little guy who has been acting since he was 4, so he’s very professional.’
She went on jokingly: ‘He comes in knowing all his lines, knowing where to hit his marks – he even knows all the other actors’ lines. I expect he should become the head of the studio by the time he is 12.’
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