The legendary comedic actress died Friday at 71 years old.

Macaulay Culkin posts heartbreaking reaction to death of Home Alone mom Catherine O’Hara: ‘I thought we had time’

The legendary comedic actress died Friday at 71 years old.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

EW's editorial guidelines

on January 30, 2026 9:39 p.m. ET

Catherine O'Hara and Macaulay Culkin at Culkin's star ceremony in December 2023. Credit:

Anna Webber/Variety via Getty

*Home Alone* star Macaulay Culkin is paying a heartbreaking tribute to his onscreen mom and close friend Catherine O'Hara after her death.

The actor posted on Instagram shortly after news of O'Hara's death broke, sharing a collage featuring two photos of him and the late actress: one from their 1990 hit Christmas film and their reunion at Culkin's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in December 2023.

"Mama. I thought we had time," the former child star captioned his sorrowful post. "I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say."

He signed off with a sweet message to the late actress, writing, "I love you. I'll see you later."

Catherine O'Hara and Macaulay Culkin in 'Home Alone'.

20th Century Fox

Then, less than an hour later, a clearly grief-stricken Culkin replied to his own post to note, "I’m mad about this…"

The actress died at age 71 on Friday in Los Angeles following a brief illness, her manager confirmed to **. Her family announced plans to hold a private celebration of her life at a later date.

Culkin and O'Hara's offscreen relationship grew and evolved in the years since they played Kevin and Kate McCallister in Chris Columbus and John Hughes' Christmas classic and its 1992 sequel, *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*. So much so that the Canadian comedienne took to the podium to dedicate a speech to her former costar during his star ceremony.

"*Home Alone* was, is, and always will be a beloved global sensation," O'Hara began her speech. "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."

Catherine O'Hara, 'Home Alone' and 'Schitt's Creek' star, dies at 71

The cast of 'Home Alone', then and now: Here’s what became of the stars over 35 later

Yes, Culkin had the "most excellent script" and "wonderful director," but it was his "perfect performance" that has made it such an enduring classic, O'Hara continued. "I know you worked really hard, but you made acting look like the most natural thing in the world to do." She later added, "This beautiful 10-year-old little boy was called a superstar, a moneymaker, one of the hottest leading young men in Hollywood. How does anyone survive that?"

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

"I believe you'd have to possess a certain quality," O'Hara said. "A gift that dear John Hughes obviously recognized in Macaulay." Of his sense of humor, "It's a sign of intelligence in a child and a key to survival at any age," she added. "You have brought that sense of sweet yet twisted, yet totally relatable, sense of humor to everything you have chosen to do since *Home Alone.*"**

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Steve Nissen, Macaulay Culkin, Catherine O'Hara, and Natasha Lyonne at Culkin's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony.

Amy Sussman/Getty

The comedy legend concluded her speech by thanking Culkin for including her, "your fake mom that left you home alone not once but twice," to "share in this happy occasion." After sharing a hug, Culkin wiped away tears.

O'Hara is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, whom she met on the set of *Beetlejuice,* and sons Matthew and Luke, along with siblings Michael O'Hara, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Maureen Jolley, Marcus O'Hara, Tom O'Hara, and Patricia Wallice.

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Death Tributes

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrity”