Macaulay Culkin Speaks on 'Unfinished Business' With Late 'Home Alone' Star Catherine O'Hara

Macaulay Culkin has spoken publicly about his relationship with the late Catherine O'Hara, saying he had 'unfinished business' with the actress who portrayed his on-screen mother in the 'Home Alone' film franchise. In an interview with The Gentleman's Journal reported by The Hollywood Reporter on May 12, 2026, Culkin reflected on his feelings toward O'Hara in the months since her death. The former child star expressed a personal sense of obligation toward his late co-star, describing an outstanding debt he felt remained between them at the time of her passing.

The Details

The comments emerged from an exclusive interview Culkin gave to The Gentleman's Journal for a profile titled 'Macaulay Culkin Cleans House,' which The Hollywood Reporter excerpted and wrote about on May 12, 2026. The publication characterized the Gentleman's Journal profile as the primary interview source for its reporting on Culkin's remarks about his late co-star.

In the interview, Culkin addressed his connection to O'Hara, who died earlier this year, and offered a candid reflection on their relationship. The actor spoke about the lingering sense of obligation he felt toward the performer following her death.

'I feel like I owed her a favour — and I don't like having an outstanding debt,' Culkin said, in remarks excerpted by The Hollywood Reporter from the Gentleman's Journal interview. The quote represents Culkin's direct explanation of his feelings toward O'Hara following her death.

The Hollywood Reporter's framing of the story, written by reporter McKinley Franklin, stated that 'Macaulay Culkin has 'unfinished business' with Catherine O'Hara.' The publication used the phrase to characterize Culkin's sentiment about unresolved feelings toward the actress.

O'Hara died at 71 after a brief illness. The Hollywood Reporter separately reported on her death on January 30, 2026. The obituary and the May 12 interview coverage represent two distinct pieces of reporting by the same publication about the actress and her former co-star.

The piece is a reaction tied to O'Hara's death and Culkin's retrospective comments, not a new project announcement. No future collaborations or franchise revivals were discussed in the interview as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The Gentleman's Journal profile served as the primary interview source for The Hollywood Reporter's coverage, with the publication corroborating Culkin's remarks in its May 12 writeup. Three sources were consulted for the overall story, though independent non-trade confirmation of the exact quote was not accessible because live web search quota had been exhausted.

Context

Catherine O'Hara played Kate McCallister, the mother of Kevin McCallister, in the 'Home Alone' films. She died at 71 after a brief illness, as previously reported by The Hollywood Reporter in January 2026.

The interview excerpted by The Hollywood Reporter on May 12, 2026, drew from Culkin's conversation with The Gentleman's Journal, which was listed as a tier-2 corroborating source for the story. In that conversation, Culkin discussed his thoughts on O'Hara in the months since her passing. The Gentleman's Journal, a lifestyle and culture publication, conducted the original interview from which The Hollywood Reporter drew its reporting.

Culkin's remarks did not detail a specific favor or particular debt but expressed a general sentiment of feeling that something remained unresolved between himself and the actress, according to The Hollywood Reporter's account of the Gentleman's Journal interview. The actor did not elaborate on the nature of the favor in the excerpts reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The Gentleman's Journal profile explored Culkin's current perspective and outlook, during which he addressed his connection to O'Hara. The Hollywood Reporter, a tier-1 corroborating source, cited the profile as the primary interview source for its writeup and as the basis for its characterization of Culkin's comments. The publication corroborated the Gentleman's Journal's reporting in its own account of the interview.

What's Next

The piece stands as a personal reflection rather than an announcement of future work. Culkin's comments were part of a wider Gentleman's Journal profile and were not connected to any new project. The interview represents Culkin's retrospective look at a professional relationship rather than a promotional effort for upcoming work.

No new projects involving Culkin and O'Hara were announced, and the story remains a retrospective look at Culkin's comments about his late co-star in the months since her death. The Gentleman's Journal profile from which the remarks were drawn focused on Culkin's current life and perspective rather than future professional plans.