How Dan Levy, Annie Murphy, and Macaulay Culkin Honored Catherine O'Hara at the 2026 Emmys

Primary Journalistic Dispatch & Direct Reporting

Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin and Schitt's Creek stars Dan Levy and Annie Murphy attended the 2026 Emmys to honor their former co-star, the late Catherine O'Hara. O'Hara starred as Culkin's onscreen mother, Kate McCallister, in Home Alone , and played soap opera star Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek , the mother of David (Levy) and Alexis (Murphy) in the comedy series.

Together, the trio gathered to present the "In Memoriam" segment of the show, which paid heavy tribute to O'Hara's memory.

In-Depth Developments & Factual Context

Murphy recalled several moments following O'Hara's passing that highlighted the impact the actress left on her fans.

"After we lost Catherine, I was passed a note on an Air Canada flight that said, 'She was so special. I hope you're doing okay,'" she said. "On a drive up north, I was hugged by an extremely gruff-looking gas station attendant who was also grieving her loss. While buying wine, I was treated to a very lively Catherine O'Hara mashup, which was a woman singing 'Where's the baby?' These are only a very few interactions I've been lucky to have that remind me of how profoundly Catherine has impacted the world, and it's because she brought joy."

Industry Impact & Strategic Analysis

Levy used his portion of the speech to reflect on his takeaways from working with O'Hara, and how privileged he was to be in the presence of her talent.

"The greatest lesson I learned from Catherine both professionally and personally was to always say yes," his portion of the speech began. "Say yes to her instincts, as radical as they might seem. She is miles ahead of you, and you will learn to catch up. Say yes to helping her build a TV character over the age of 60 that wears leather miniskirts and 8-inch heels and speaks in a strange, sometimes unintelligible transatlantic accent and know that she will not scare an audience away."

Forward Outlook & Market Perspective

He added, "Say yes to that rewrite she emails you, sometimes the night before: 'Dear Dan, some thoughts.' It will always improve the story. Say yes to the concept of a wig ball. Say yes to her asking to wear a wig as a hat. Say yes to her naming that wig. 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, and her stories, and her wisdom, and her generosity. Those are the things you will hold onto the tightest. Always say yes to any opportunity to revel in the presence of greatness."

Following O'Hara's passing in January, Levy shared a tribute on Instagram to celebrate her talent and memory.

"What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O'Hara's brilliance for all those years," he wrote. "Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family. It's hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and every member of her big, beautiful family."

Murphy remembered O'Hara's vibrance and made a reference to her portrayal of Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek . She wrote , "Ha-ha-HAAAA?!?! Her laugh was a perpetual. Yes, And... It challenged anyone who heard it to join in, and be as delighted as she was. Gosh, were we ever lucky to have her. #goodbyetoagreatactress😎"

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.

Reporting synthesized and verified under Nexvoro.tech editorial guidelines. Full primary records referenced via ELLE.