Catherine O’Hara has built a legendary Hollywood career over nearly five decades, but the actress says she feels gratitude rather than pride when looking back at her success.
“I don’t know if proud is the right word,” O’Hara explained. “Grateful really.”
The Beetlejuice and Home Alone star, now 71, remains a sought-after actress. She recently reprised her role in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and appeared alongside Willem Dafoe in a Michelob ULTRA Super Bowl ad. Even with her continued success, some of her most beloved roles still dominate conversations today.
O’Hara Still Has a Close Bond With Macaulay Culkin
O’Hara’s portrayal of Kevin McCallister’s frantic yet loving mother in Home Alone cemented her as an unforgettable on-screen mom. More than 30 years later, she and Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in the holiday classic, have remained in touch.
“I’m so happy he’s doing well,” she shared. “He has his own little family now. Up close, he still has the same face—it’s like I’m looking at that little eight-year-old boy.”
Culkin, now 44, is married to former Disney star Brenda Song. The couple shares two children, including daughter Dakota, named in honor of Culkin’s late sister, who died in 2008.
Culkin’s rise to fame in the 1990s was meteoric, making him one of the most successful child actors of his time. However, behind the scenes, his family struggles made headlines. After his parents’ separation, Culkin legally removed their names from his trust fund, giving him full control of his earnings.
In a past interview, he reflected on that difficult period. “I had millions of dollars in the bank, but my mother couldn’t pay rent because she was spending money on lawyers,” he revealed. “The only way I could access my money was to take my father’s name off, but I didn’t want to make it messy—so I took both their names off.”
A Hollywood Legacy That Continues
Despite stepping away from acting in the mid-90s, Culkin has since made a quiet return to Hollywood. In 2023, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where O’Hara delivered a heartfelt speech in his honor.
“I know you worked really hard, but you made acting look like the most natural thing in the world,” she told him.
O’Hara, meanwhile, continues to take on new projects, including voicing a character in the Oscar-nominated animated film The Wild Robot. As she reflects on her career, she remains thankful for the opportunities and friendships she has built along the way.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Jaja’s career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including Business Times and Brigada. As a news editor, she covered a wide range of beats, including business, economy, cryptocurrency, and personal finance. Additionally, she has successfully managed teams of writers producing content on gaming, technology, and entertainment.
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