The 78th Emmy Awards paid heartfelt homage to late legends Catherine O’Hara and Rob Reiner, featuring moving speeches from Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, Dan Levy and Jamie Lee Curtis, while Reiner set a historic 48‑year Emmy gap record.

  • Catherine O'Hara honored by Macaulay Culkin and co‑stars
  • Rob Reiner sets a 48‑year longest gap record
  • Jamie Lee Curtis delivers an emotional tribute

In Memoriam Segment at the 78th Emmys

The ceremony’s traditional In Memoriam segment remembered industry giants who passed away over the past year, including Catherine O'Hara, Rob Reiner, Dolly Parton, James Burrows and others. Singer Noah Kahan performed Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” live.

Catherine O’Hara’s On‑Screen Children Pay Tribute

Macaulay Culkin, who played Kevin in the first two Home Alone movies, took the stage and said, “She wasn’t just a wife to Bo and mother to Matthew and Luke. She was my mom, our mama.” He urged viewers to call their mothers and recalled O’Hara’s kindness decades after their collaboration.

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Following Culkin, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy—who portrayed Alexis and David Rose, the children of O’Hara’s iconic Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek—shared heartfelt memories. Murphy highlighted O’Hara’s perpetual “yes, and” spirit, while Levy emphasized the power of saying “yes” to creative risks.

Jamie Lee Curtis Remembers Rob Reiner

After the segment, Jamie Lee Curtis delivered a tearful tribute to Rob Reiner, recalling their shared screen time on New Girl. She described him as “generous, kind and funny as hell.” Reiner’s posthumous Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (for The Bear) marked a 48‑year gap between his wins, breaking a record previously held by his father, Carl Reiner.

Historical Background

The Emmys’ In Memoriam tradition dates back to the early 1970s, evolving from a brief five‑minute tribute to a centerpiece that honors the lasting impact of television and film pioneers.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that these emotional tributes boost audience engagement, potentially increasing future viewership and advertising revenue for the Emmy broadcast.

“The In Memoriam segment reminds audiences of genuine human connection, a rarity in today’s fast‑paced media landscape.”
Did You Know?: The first Emmy In Memoriam segment aired in 1974 and lasted only five minutes, but it has since become a hallmark of the ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Which two Emmy wins bookend Rob Reiner’s 48‑year gap record?

A: 1978 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and 2026 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Q2: What was the primary cause of Catherine O’Hara’s death?

A: Pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer listed as an underlying condition.