The entertainment world has been plunged into mourning following the sudden passing of comedy legend Catherine O’Hara at age 71. The Emmy-winning actress, best known for her iconic roles in Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, died peacefully at her Los Angeles home on Friday, January 30, following a brief illness.

As news of her death broke, social media was immediately flooded with waves of grief from fans and fellow stars. Leading the tributes was Macaulay Culkin, her on-screen son from the holiday classic Home Alone, whose heartbreaking message has since gone viral, capturing the collective sense of loss felt by millions.

Macaulay Culkin’s Heartbreaking ‘Mama’ Tribute Goes Viral

In a post that has brought tears to eyes across the internet, Macaulay Culkin shared a touching composite image of himself and O’Hara—one from their 1990 film and a recent photo from his 2023 Walk of Fame ceremony. His caption, raw and emotional, instantly trended worldwide.

“Mama. I thought we had time,” Culkin wrote. “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.”

The pair shared a unique bond that transcended their early work. Just three years ago, O’Hara delivered a moving speech at Culkin’s Walk of Fame induction, calling herself his “fake mom” who was “so proud” of him. The resurgence of clips from that ceremony alongside Culkin’s farewell has become a central point of the online vigil, symbolizing the generational impact of her warmth and humor.

Schitt’s Creek Cast Mourns Their Matriarch

For six seasons, O’Hara dazzled audiences as the eccentricity-personified Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek. Her co-stars, who became her real-life family, were quick to share their devastation. Dan Levy, who played her son David and co-created the show, penned a profound tribute to the woman he called “extended family.”

“What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years,” Levy wrote on Instagram. “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.”

Social media has also seen a massive resurgence of Moira Rose clips, with fans sharing their favorite mispronunciations of “bébé” and her outlandish wig changes as a way to celebrate the joy she brought to television. The character earned O’Hara an Emmy Award in 2020, cementing her status as a comedy titan.

Hollywood Icons and Co-Stars React

Beyond her most famous on-screen families, tributes poured in from colleagues spanning her five-decade career. Pedro Pascal, who worked with O’Hara on the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us, shared a candid photo of the two hugging.

“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful,” Pascal wrote. “There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always.”

Seth Rogen, her co-star in the recent Apple TV+ series The Studio, credited O’Hara with inspiring his entire career. “Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies,” Rogen shared. “Getting to work with her was a true honor. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous… This is just devastating.”

A Legacy of Laughter and Genius

Catherine O’Hara’s career was defined by her fearless commitment to character. From her breakout days on SCTV alongside Eugene Levy and John Candy to her unforgettable turn as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice, she possessed a rare ability to make the eccentric feel human and the absurd feel grounded.

Her representative confirmed that she passed away surrounded by family, including her husband Bo Welch and their two sons, Matthew and Luke. As the tributes continue to pour in, one sentiment remains universal: whether she was Kate McCallister, Moira Rose, or simply Catherine, she left us thinking we had more time to laugh with her.