Rachel McAdams He took the Oscars stage on Sunday night and captured every heart in the room. At the 98th Academy Awards held in Hollywood on March 15, 2026, the 47-year-old actor offered a poignant In Memoriam tribute to the inspiring women lost over the past year, including his “Family Stone” co-stars. Diane Keaton and Canadian Catherine O’Hara.
Rachel McAdam’s kind words for Diane Keaton and Catherine O’hara
The segment always hits hard, but McAdams made it personal. On stage at the event, he began by acknowledging the void he had left. “This year, we lost so many artists, including actors whose talent and originality opened the world to us,” he said, his voice steady at first but cracking with emotion.
He first turned to Catherine O’Hara, the comedic genius behind Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone. O’Hara died in January 2026 of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 72. McAdams called him “my Canadian,” adding that he “made us laugh until we cried.” Catherine O’Hara was celebrated for her sharp wit that brought joy to millions. The shared heritage added a tender layer, a reminder of how these stars are bound together by borders and generations.Then came Diane Keaton, who died in October 2025 aged 79 of pneumonia after a sudden decline in health. McAdams, who played Keaton’s daughter in the 2005 holiday film The Family Stone and reunited with him in 2010’s Morning Glory, spoke from deep admiration. “For over 50 years, brilliant on screen and indelible in life, believe me when I say that there is no actor of my generation who is not inspired and fascinated by his absolute uniqueness,” he shared.McAdams highlighted Keaton’s many roles beyond acting. “She wore so many hats, literally and figuratively, actor, artist, author, activist, but no hat is more important than being a mother to her two children,” he continued. “He meant so much to so many of us.” Her voice broke here, her eyes twinkling under the lights, making the tribute a raw moment of grief and gratitude. “And so to our friend, Diane Keaton, celebrating a life of silver and gold, a legend without end,” he said.The crowd felt it too. The segment also honored Claudia Cardinale and Diane Ladd, but Keaton and O’Hara stood out for their personal connections to McAdams. She made a rare appearance at the Oscars after a decade away from red carpets, stunning fans in her gilded gown.This tribute was a reminder of why we cherish these women. Keaton’s Oscar-winning quirks shaped careers like Annie Hall and O’Hara’s biting humor in McAdams. On a night of glamour, her words cut the deepest, reminiscent of Hollywood’s beating heart.