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Yes, you do need your tissues for this one.
The Emmys took place Monday night, and in a year of so much loss, this year’s In Memoriam segment was bound to be tearjerking.
Catherine O’Hara wasn’t only a movie star. She was also a TV star, so her range took us from Christmas surprises in the ’90s (Home Alone) to small town laughs in the 2010s (Schitt’s Creek) and insider Hollywood action in the 2020s (The Studio).
Related: Catherine Gave Sweetest Speech For Macaulay’s Walk Of Fame Star
Fitting it was to see her most famous “children” walk on stage to introduce the segment: Macaulay Culkin, who played her son Kevin in the Home Alone franchise, and Annie Murphy and Dan Levy, who played her kids in Schitt’s Creek.
Understandably emotional, Macaulay spoke of “mama” in a way that pulls on the heartstrings, reminding audiences everywhere how she was everyone’s mother:
“There are all kinds of words I could use to describe Catherine. She was encouraging. She was warm. She was funny. But the word that I think of is mama. She was, she was my mom. She was, she was our mama. And by extension, she’s all of our mama. By the way, call your mother tonight. For real. But like a good mama, she always showed up when I asked her to. Because that was Catherine. That’s what she did. She showed up. And this is the best that we can do for her tonight. We’re showing up for her. So she may have forgotten me — twice — but we will always remember her. Thank you.”
So touching. Yes, we will all remember her so well.
Related: Macaulay’s Instagram Tribute To Catherine After Death
Next, Annie spoke of her impact on audiences, sharing real world experiences she had after Catherine’s death:
“Catherine’s laugh was a perpetual yes, and it challenged anyone who heard it to join in and be as delighted as she was. And she spread that delight everywhere. 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.’ 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 at the LCBO, I was treated to a very lively Catherine mashup — a woman saying, ‘Ooh, David, where’s the baby?’ while doing what I can only assume was her Catherine’s exquisite hobble from Best in Show. These are only a very few of the interactions I’ve been lucky enough to have that remind me how profoundly Catherine has impacted the world. And it’s because she brought us joy.”
And Dan, who’s known her since childhood since his father Eugene Levy was one of Catherine’s closest acting partners, shared the “greatest lesson” he ever learned from her:
“The greatest lesson I learned from Catherine, both professionally and personally, was to always say yes. Say yes to her instincts — all of them, as radical as they may sometimes 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 mini skirts and eight-inch heels and speaks in a strange, sometimes unintelligible transatlantic accent. And know that she will not scare an audience away. 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 wall. 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 on to the tightest. Always say yes to any opportunity to revel in the presence of greatness.”
Later in the segment, Jamie Lee Curtis came out to pay respects to “our beloved meathead” Rob Reiner — who won an Emmy this year for his work on The Bear.
“So for over a thousand episodes of television, the great James Burrows set a standard of comedy directing that will be cherished and studied for generations to come. And sadly, last year, we lost another cherished legend, our beloved meathead — Rob Reiner. Last week, Robby won an Emmy for guest actor in a comedy series for his beautiful work on The Bear. And he now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father, Carl Reiner, at 37 years. He was generous and kind and funny as hell, and a friend to all. And we all miss Rob and Michelle, and all those we lost this year.”
Watch the touching tribute for yourself (below):
Noah Kahan also performed Bridge Over Troubled Water as part of the broader In Memoriam segment honoring more industry losses, including Hayden Panettiere, James Van Der Beek, Tim Curry, and more.
Related: Stars We Lost In 2026
It’s been a devastating year, but what incredible lifetimes these brilliant performers gave us. May they all rest in peace and glory.
Which TV great will you miss the most? Let us know in the comments (below).
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