Catherine O’Hara Passes Away at 71

Friends and co-stars from “Home Alone” are expressing their grief over the loss of Catherine O’Hara, who died at 71. She was taken to the hospital in a “critical” state before passing away on Friday. O’Hara starred in the beloved 1990 holiday classic alongside Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Devin Rattray, and John Candy. She returned as Kate McAllister in the sequel, “Home Alone 2,” released in 1992.

Before O’Hara’s passing, John Heard, who played her on-screen husband, died in 2017 at 72.

Many “Home Alone” cast members have shared heartfelt tributes following her death.

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin, who portrayed Kevin McAllister, shared a nostalgic photo on Instagram to remember O’Hara. They had remained close over the years; O’Hara once described him as “a nice young man” and expressed her happiness for his family life. “Mom, I thought there was still time. I wanted more,” he wrote, posting a picture of them together and expressing his love for her. “I love you. See you again.”

Chris Columbus

Director Chris Columbus also took to Instagram to express his sadness. “I’m stunned and heartbroken,” he wrote. He recalled being a fan of O’Hara’s comedic talents on “SCTV” and was thrilled when she agreed to take on the role of Kevin’s mother. Columbus added that O’Hara carried “50 percent of the weight” of the film with her extraordinary performance, stating that she would be greatly missed.

Devin Rattray

Devin Rattray, who played O’Hara’s son Buzz in the film, also shared his condolences on social media. He called her “one of the greatest people I’ve ever met,” posting a picture of them together from the 1990s. Rattray reprised his role in the 2021 sequel “Home Sweet Home Alone.”