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“Home Alone” Fans Stunned To Learn Kevin’s Mom, Catherine O’Hara, Was 36 Y.O. In The Film
“Home Alone” Fans Stunned To Learn Kevin’s Mom, Catherine O’Hara, Was 36 Y.O. In The Film
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“Home Alone” Fans Stunned To Learn Kevin’s Mom, Catherine O’Hara, Was 36 Y.O. In The Film

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It’s been over 34 years since the first Home Alone film was released, which makes all of us millennials who grew up watching this Christmas classic every year feel old.

The feeling only gets worse once we look at where Macaulay Culkin, AKA Kevin McCallister, is today, as he was nine years old at the time of filming, and now he’s 44, engaged, and a father to two boys.

But amidst the holiday season being in full swing this month, movie fans have now turned their focus to Catherine O’Hara, who played Kate McCallister, Kevin’s mom.

RELATED:

    Catherine O’Hara, who played Kate McCallister, was a lot younger than many people remembered in Home Alone

    "Home Alone" scene with Kevin's mom, portrayed by Catherine O’Hara, at 36, holding hands with her son on a staircase.

    Image credits: 20th Century Fox

    In Home Alone, Kate was also the mom of Kevin’s two brothers, Jeff (Michael C. Maronna) and Buzz (Devin Ratray), and two sisters, Megan (Hillary Wolf) and Linnie (Angela Goethals).

    The size of the McCallister family was so big that it resulted in poor little Kevin being forgotten from a Christmas trip, twice.

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    Kevin and his close family lived in a beautiful and massive house somewhere in an affluent suburb of Chicago.

    "Home Alone cast featuring Catherine O'Hara, seated with co-stars in a family pose.

    Image credits: 20th Century Fox

    Viewers don’t learn of Kate’s supposed age, but we can assume she was around the same age Catherine was at the time of the filming.

    Considering the number of siblings and the luxurious house, viewers today might be surprised to learn that the Schitt’s Creek star was only 36 years old when the first Home Alone was released.

    Catherine recently appeared alongside Macaulay, who was just honored at the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a star.

    In Home Alone, Kate was also the mom of Kevin’s two brothers, Jeff (Michael C. Maronna) and Buzz (Devin Ratray), and two sisters, Megan (Hillary Wolf) and Linnie (Angela Goethals)

    Catherine O'Hara as Kevin's mom in "Home Alone," wearing gold earrings with short red hair.

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    Image credits: 20th Century Fox

    The 69-year-old actress gave a speech looking back at the Home Alone days, praising Macaulay’s “perfect performance”.

    She stated that her on-screen son brought his “sweet and twisted, yet totally relatable” sense of humor to all of his work.

    Macaulay was seemingly moved to tears by Catherine, as she said: “Home Alone was, is and always will be a beloved global sensation … the reason families all over the world can’t let a year go by without watching and loving Home Alone together is because of Macaulay Culkin.”

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    The actress went on to note Macaulay’s young age at the time of filming, as the actor was only nine at the time of Home Alone.

    Catherine O'Hara as Kevin's mom in "Home Alone," wearing a 90s dress, looks surprised in a festive room.

    Image credits: 20th Century Fox

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    She said: “I know you worked really hard, I know you did, but you made acting look like the most natural thing in the world to do.

    “It’s a sign of intelligence in a child and a key to survival at any age.”

    Before hugging Macaulay, Catherine concluded: “Macaulay, congratulations.

    “You so deserve your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    “And thank you for including me, your fake mom who left you home alone not once but twice, to share in this happy occasion. 

    “I’m so proud of you.”

    The size of the McCallister family was so big that it resulted in poor little Kevin being forgotten from a Christmas trip, twice

    Catherine O'Hara from "Home Alone," smiling in a festive setting with flowers and flags, wearing a scarf and blazer.

    Image credits: 20th Century Fox

    Movie fans were stunned to learn the young age of many famous characters

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    @justbri_always#greenscreen#fyp#seriesbybri#tvtiktok#tvtok#viral#homealone#fullhouse#dannytanner#goldengirls#friendstvtiktok♬ As It Was – PREP

    In the movie, written by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, Kevin is forgotten at his home in Chicago when his family goes on holiday for Christmas. 

    At the beginning of the film, Kevin has a big argument with his family the night before their trip to Paris.

    The film, which premiered 34 years ago, follows Kevin as he is forgotten at his home in Chicago when his family goes on holiday for Christmas

    Kevin's mom from "Home Alone" hugs someone at Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.

    Image credits: Variety

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    When Kate sends Kevin to sleep up in the attic as a punishment, she says she doesn’t want to see him “for the rest of the night”, to which Kevin replies: “I don’t want to see you again for the rest of my life, and I don’t want to see anybody else, either.”

    Kate then replies: “I hope you don’t mean that – you’d feel pretty sad if you woke up tomorrow morning and you didn’t have a family.”

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    Which, as we know, is exactly what happens.

    Catherine recently appeared alongside Macaulay Culkin, who was just honored at the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a star

    Catherine O'Hara at Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, interacting warmly with a man on stage.

    Image credits: Variety

    Catherine had reportedly struggled “deeply” with the line regarding Kevin being faced with his family’s disappearance.

    While delivering the speech at the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday she said: “The scene where I had to drag him upstairs to sleep in the attic ‘cause he’d misbehaved, he’s mouthing off about the family and I say, ‘Well, you’d be pretty sad if you woke up tomorrow morning and you had no family,’ and he says, ‘No, I wouldn’t.’ And I was supposed to say, ‘Then say it again – maybe it’ll happen.’

    “I can’t tell you how much that killed me – I could not wrap my head around saying something so horrific to this beautiful child.” 

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    She then admitted: “Of course, I was not yet a mother at the time and I had no idea the kind of things would come out of my own mouth with my own two sons.”

    People noted that the perception of age was different than it was today

    Online comment about Catherine O’Hara from "Home Alone," mentioning age with laughing emojis.

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    Comment on "Home Alone" mom Catherine O’Hara being 36, reads: "36 with all of those kids?

    Comment by Danielle reacting to “Home Alone” mom's age revelation.

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    Comment discussing perception of actors' ages in "Home Alone" film.

    Comment discussing generational differences in parenting age, related to "Home Alone" and Catherine O'Hara.

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    "Comment discussing perceived age of actors in 'Home Alone', noting they seemed older.

    Comment about Catherine O'Hara from "Home Alone," noting how people looked older in the past.

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    Comment expressing surprise about being older than Catherine O'Hara in "Home Alone.

    Comment discussing how '80s and '90s hair and makeup aged women drastically, referencing Catherine O'Hara.

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    Comment reacting to Catherine O'Hara's age in "Home Alone," with a shocked emoji.

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    "Comment about aging and style related to Catherine O’Hara from Home Alone.

    Comment referencing Catherine O'Hara's age in "Home Alone," expressing surprise about life's progress.

    User comment on social media discussing generational aging, with reactions and a date stamp.

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    Comment noting Catherine O'Hara looks young in “Home Alone.”

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    Comment on "Home Alone" surprises fans by age revelation.

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    What do you think ?
    Trillian
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it's mostly the clothes and haircuts. They don't actually look older, but the frumpy clothes and blow-dry hair dos are something I associate with much older people.

    Charles McChristy
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And? That is about how old I imagined her.

    Nikole
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doesn’t this fact come as a “shock” to people every holiday season? I swear I’ve read the same article each December for like the past 5-10 years.

    Load More Comments
    Trillian
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it's mostly the clothes and haircuts. They don't actually look older, but the frumpy clothes and blow-dry hair dos are something I associate with much older people.

    Charles McChristy
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And? That is about how old I imagined her.

    Nikole
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doesn’t this fact come as a “shock” to people every holiday season? I swear I’ve read the same article each December for like the past 5-10 years.

    Load More Comments
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