After learning that Catherine O'Hara tragically passed away at the age of 71, Macaulay Culkin may have said best what we've all been feeling since: that we thought we had more time.
Arguably one of Macaulay Culkin's biggest roles in his career was that of the young Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York alongside his on-screen mom, Catherine O'Hara, playing the part of Kate McCallister, who would do anything to reunite with her son... both times.
But their love for each other went far beyond the fictional family life of the McCallisters.
Culkin has been open about the fact that he did not have the greatest home life while growing up, so the kind and supportive adults in his life were incredibly important to him. Catherine O'Hara became so important, in fact, that he never stopped calling her "Mama," and she never stopped calling him "Son" or "Baby."
When it was time for Macaulay Culkin to receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, there was no one more fitting to give a speech leading up to his acceptance than Catherine O'Hara, who gave a beautiful speech about his relatability, his humor, and the importance he held in her life.
O'Hara ended her speech by saying:
"Macaulay, congratulations. You so deserve your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."
"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."
The two come together in an embrace, and when Catherine O'Hara touched his face, Macaulay Culkin could be heard faintly calling her, "Mama."
You can see her speech here:
So when it was shared that Catherine O'Hara had suddenly passed away at just 71, Culkin shared photographs of 10-year-old Kevin embracing his mom after being left home alone, with him embracing O'Hara when he earned his star.
In his touching tribute, Culkin shared that, like all of us, he thought he had more time.
"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."
You can see Culkin's tribute here:
O'Hara's acting career spanned decades and cemented her as one of Hollywood's most iconic comedic talents. But even with all of that fame, she understood the role she played in many people's lives.
O'Hara once said of her legacy:
"When you do something that people watch and enjoy as children, that's great, because it stays with you, throughout your life. The things you loved as a child stay with you, and so do the people who were in those things."
Fittingly, what most fans will remember her for were her iconic roles as various mothers, especially Kate McCallister, and when TMZ asked her what she most wanted to be remembered for, she didn't mention acting.
When asked what she wanted to be remembered for, she mentioned the role of a lifetime.
"The mother of my children."
You can watch the special tribute here:
It's fitting that O'Hara will be remembered as a wife and mother, as well as a mother figure to Macaulay Culkin—and for an entire generation.
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O'Hara's loss has deeply touched the acting community, as well, and countless fellow celebrities have shared tributes.
If you want to watch something in O'Hara's memory, her beloved role as Kate McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and her iconic Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek are all available to watch in the U.S. on Disney+.
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