Right after the news broke, Macaulay Culkin—who played her on-screen son Kevin McCallister in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)—shared a deeply emotional tribute on Instagram. Even years after filming, they still affectionately called each other “mom” and “son” whenever they met.
“Mama. I thought we had time.” 
Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin has paid tribute to his on-screen mother Catherine O’Hara following the sad news about her death.
Macaulay and Catherine starred as Kevin and Kate McCallister in ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Home Alone 2’, and reunited in 2023 for Macaulay’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
In a 2024 interview, Macaulay revealed that he still called Catherine ‘mom’ and she called him ‘son’ whenever they saw each other
Culkin accompanied his post with side-by-side photos: one from the Home Alone set (where she hugs him as a child) and another from his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in December 2023 (where she was there to support him).
His full post reads:
“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.”
This short but profoundly moving message has touched millions, highlighting their special bond—not just as co-stars, but as a real family figure in Culkin’s life.
Tributes from Other Stars
Many colleagues and friends have shared heartfelt messages:
- Michael Keaton (her co-star in Beetlejuice): “We go back before the first Beetlejuice. She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her.”
- Christopher Guest (longtime collaborator on mockumentaries like Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind): “I am devastated. We have lost one of the comic giants of our age. I send my love to her family.”
- Joe Pesci (Uncle Harry in Home Alone): “Catherine was a great actress, and she will be missed. God bless. Rest in Peace.”
- Pedro Pascal (who worked with her on season 2 of The Last of Us): “Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you.”
Catherine O’Hara leaves behind a legacy full of laughter, brilliant improvisation, and deep humanity. She will forever be remembered as the mom who made us laugh and cry at the same time—especially on those Christmas nights when Kevin was left home alone.
Rest in peace, Catherine. Thank you for the magic. 😢💔
