Catherine O'Hara plays the role of the mom in Home Alone.
Home Alone is a 1990 comedy film directed by Chris Columbus. It is one of the holiday classics and is loved by audiences worldwide. It is the 1st film of the Home Alone franchise, of which there are 6 films. The film's cast includes Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O'Hara. The film revolves around the events that took place when 8-year-old Kevin McCallister was left alone in his house. It was nominated at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards, etc.
Along with Kevin, the character of his mother, Kate McCallister, is equally iconic. Catherine O'Hara played the role of the mother who accidentally left behind her young son when going on a trip. Let’s take a look at O'Hara's career and the character she plays in Home Alone.
Who acted as the mom in Home Alone?
Catherine Anne O'Hara is a popular Canadian actress, screenwriter, and comedian, born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She started her acting career with the TV show Wayne and Shuster in 1975. She made her film debut with the film Double Negative in 1980.
In the 1990s, she appeared in many supporting roles in films like After Hours (1985), Heartburn (1986), Beetlejuice (1988), Home Alone (1990), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), etc. As a voice actor, she has been a part of many animated films like The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Chicken Little (2005), Monster House (2006), Brother Bear 2 (2006), The Addams Family (2019), Elemental (2023), The Wild Robot (2024), etc.
In 2015, she joined the cast of the CBS sitcom Schitt's Creek as Moira Rose. The show has 6 seasons and it ended in 2020. Her portrayal of the privileged, spoiled, and dramatic Moira Rose was loved by audiences worldwide. For this role, she received many awards including 6 Canadian Screen Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards, etc. In 2021, Catherine was featured in the list of Forbes 50 over 50.
Catherine O’Hara met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of Beetlejuice. The couple got married in 1992 and have two sons together, Matthew and Luke.
Who is Kate McCallister in Home Alone?
In the movie Home Alone, Catherine O’Hara plays the role of Kevin’s mother, Kate McCallister. The film starts with the McCallister family preparing for their Christmas in Paris. She was introduced as a loving mother who is managing her chaotic family during the holiday season. In the rush and confusion of getting to the airport on time, they accidentally leave Kevin behind at home. After getting on the plane, Kate soon realizes that Kevin is not with them.
After arriving in Paris, Kate waits at the airport and flies back to America. The journey was stressful for her as she failed to book the flight to Chicago. She manages to find transportation in a hurry when Gus Polinski, the leader of a traveling band, offers her help. In her hurry and desperation to reach home, she travels to Chicago in a moving van with people she just met at the airport. When she reached home and saw that Kevin was safe, she felt relieved.
Her performance as Kevin’s mother added emotions to the storyline. Her guilt about leaving her son behind and her desperation to reach home quickly are emotional moments in the film. The audience resonated with her character and she was praised for her performance.
Read more about Home Alone:
Who is the old man in Home Alone
FAQs about Home Alone
A. Catherine O’Hara plays the role of the mother in Home Alone.
A. Home Alone was released on November 16, 1990.
A. There are 6 Home Alone films.
