Macaulay Culkin is looking back at the regret he has over the sudden death of his on-screen mom Catherine O'Hara.

In a new interview with the Gentleman's Journal, Culkin shared that O'Hara's passing in January 2026 hit him hard because the "debt" he feels he owes her. The pair portrayed mother and son in the 1990 holiday classic Home Alone and its beloved 1992 sequel Home Alone 2.

"When Catherine passed away in January, that hit me. That hit me pretty good, 'cause, you know, it was just too soon," he said. "And I felt that we had unfinished business."

He added, "I feel like I owed her a favor and I don't like having an outstanding debt."

O'Hara, also known for her roles in Schitt's Creek, Beetlejuice and Best in Show, passed away January 30 at 71 following a brief illness, with her cause of death later being determined as pulmonary embolism. She was honored by many of her colleagues and friends at the time in touching tributes, including her Beetlejuice costar Michael Keaton as well as Culkin.

Culkin honored his on-screen mother with a heartbreaking memorial, sharing side-by-side photos of their time filming Home Alone and at his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star ceremony in December 2023.

"Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more," he said. "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."

Michelle Fay

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