Home Alone’s maternal figure, Kate McCallister, is often referred to as the “Home Alone mom.” She is played by actress Catherine O’Hara. Even though the film is full of jokes and chaos, Kate brings heart to the story. Catherine O’Hara appeared in two parts of the Home Alone franchise, portraying Kate McCallister, the mother of Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin).
Catherine O’Hara was born on March 4, 1954. During the filming of Home Alone (1990), she was 35 when production began in February and turned 36 in March, remaining that age when the film was released later that year. For Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), she started filming at age 37, turned 38 during production, and was 38 when the movie premiered in November.
Catherine O’Hara appears in two Home Alone films. In Home Alone (1990), she plays Kevin’s mother, who realizes mid-flight to Paris that she has left her son behind. Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) use clever and painful tricks. The movie stars Catherine O’Hara and John Heard as Kevin’s parents, with a brief appearance by John Candy as Gus Polinski.
In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), she comes back as Kevin’s anxious mother, rushing across New York after he gets on the wrong plane. In both films, she adds warmth, humor, and emotion to the story. The sequel reunites Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara, and John Heard, while adding new faces like Tim Curry, Brenda Fricker, and Rob Schneider.
Golden Globe Award-winning actress Catherine O’Hara, who died at 71 on January 30, 2026, is remembered for an extraordinary career that blended comedy and drama with brilliance. Catherine Anne O’Hara (March 4, 1954 – January 30, 2026) was a Canadian-American actress, comedian, and screenwriter whose career spanned more than five decades.
