Each year, the Emmys pays tribute to stars who’ve passed away within the last year, and this year’s “In Memoriam” segment was especially moving.
Presented by Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy, the tribute began with the Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek stars honouring the late Catherine O’Hara, who died in January.
“She always showed up when I asked her to, because that was Catherine,” said Culkin. “That’s what she did. She showed up, and this is the best that we can do for her tonight. We’re showing up for her. So she may have forgotten me…twice, but we will always remember her. “
“The greatest lesson I learned from Catherine, both professionally and personally, was to always say yes,” said Levy. “Say yes to her instincts, all of them, as radical as they may sometimes seem. She is miles ahead of you, and you will learn to catch up. Say yes to helping her build a TV character over the age of 60 that wears leather miniskirts and eight-inch heels and speaks in a strange, sometimes unintelligible transatlantic accent, and know that she will not scare an audience away. Say yes to that rewrite she emails you sometimes the night before, ‘Dear Dan, some thoughts.’ It will always improve the story. Say yes to the concept of a wig wall. Say yes to her asking to wear a wig as a hat. Say yes to her naming that wig. Say yes to giving her space to experiment and create. It will amaze you on a daily basis, and it will change your life.”
With Noah Kahan performing Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a song covered by the late Dolly Parton, the Emmys paid tribute to the music icon and O’Hara, as well as James Van Der Beek, Tim Curry, Bob Mackie, Robert Duvall, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Anthony Head, Hayden Panetierre, Kiki Shepard, Eric Dane, Vincent Pastore, Maria Riva, Hal Williams, and sadly many more.
To conclude this year’s segment, Jamie Lee Curtis also paid deeply moving tribute to directors James Burrows and Rob Reiner.
“He was generous and kind, and funny as hell, and a friend to all,” she said of Reiner. “We all miss Rob and Michele, and all those we lost this year.”
For everything that happened at the 2026 Emmys, we’ve got you covered.
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