- Who: Macaulay Culkin, 46, star of Home Alone (1990).
- Where: The 78th Emmy Awards, Peacock Theater, Los Angeles — Monday, September 14, 2026.
- With: His fiancée, Running Point star Brenda Song, 38.
- Why it went viral: Fans couldn't believe how different "Kevin" looks today — and he joined Dan Levy and Annie Murphy to honor the late Catherine O'Hara.
- The look: Ivory Gabriela Hearst tuxedo for him, light blue Oscar de la Renta gown for her.
For an entire generation, Macaulay Culkin will always be ten years old — screaming at a mirror with aftershave on his cheeks. That's exactly why the internet stopped scrolling when he stepped onto the Emmys carpet this year. The boy from Home Alone is now a 46-year-old father of two, and the photos sparked a huge wave of "then vs. now" comparisons across social media.
Egyptian news site Masrawy was among the outlets that rounded up the moment in a 20-photo gallery, noting how sharply his features have changed from the face audiences remember from Home Alone and My Girl. But the photos were only half the story. Culkin wasn't there just to pose — he was there to say goodbye.
📸 In Photos: Macaulay Culkin Then vs. Now
👉 Swipe or use the arrows to browse 6 photos.
👔 The Blue-Carpet Moment Everyone Shared
Culkin and Brenda Song arrived together at the Peacock Theater on Monday night, September 14. Song wore a light blue Oscar de la Renta gown with sparkling earrings and bracelets. Culkin matched her in an ivory Gabriela Hearst tuxedo — a structured wool-silk jacket with satin details.
The night before, the couple had also stepped out at the Warner Bros. Television Group party for Emmy nominees in West Hollywood. Warner Bros. produces Song's Netflix comedy Running Point. For a pair known for keeping their private life very private, two public outings in two nights was enough to light up fan accounts.
💔 The Real Reason He Came: Saying Goodbye to "Mama"
Catherine O'Hara — Kate McCallister, the mom who left Kevin behind in Home Alone and again in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York — died in January 2026 at age 71. During the Emmys' In Memoriam segment, three of her most famous on-screen children stood together to honor her: Culkin, plus Schitt's Creek stars Dan Levy and Annie Murphy.
Culkin opened with a joke only he could make. He reminded the audience that people know O'Hara as the mother who forgot her son. Then he said the word he always uses for her: "Mama." He described her as warm, funny and encouraging, and urged viewers at home to call their own mothers.
“She may have forgotten me twice, but we will always remember her.
— MACAULAY CULKIN, 78th EMMY AWARDS (via TVLine)
The bond was real off-screen too. O'Hara stood beside Culkin in 2023 when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When she died, Culkin posted an Instagram tribute addressed simply to "Mama," saying he thought they had more time.
🎬 From Child Superstar to Emmys Stage: The Timeline
📋 Macaulay Culkin: Fast Facts (2026)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | August 26, 1980 |
| Age at the Emmys | 46 |
| Most famous role | Kevin McCallister, Home Alone 1 & 2 |
| Partner | Brenda Song (engaged) |
| Children | Two sons — Dakota and Carson |
| Emmys 2026 role | Presenter + Catherine O'Hara tribute |
| Emmys 2026 outfit | Ivory Gabriela Hearst tuxedo |
❓ People Also Ask
The face has changed — that's what 36 years do. But the 2026 Emmys proved the heart of Home Alone is still there. Kevin McCallister grew up, built a family, and came back to the biggest stage in TV to thank the mom who once forgot him. That's why this moment hit the whole internet at once.
This article is based on a report by Masrawy (مصراوي), the Egyptian Arabic news website.
Read the original report ↗
