Beloved Actress Passes After Brief Illness
Catherine O’Hara, the acclaimed actress celebrated for her roles in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, passed away on Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 71 following a short illness. Her family, including husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke, plans to hold a private celebration of life in her honor.
Emergency services responded to O’Hara’s home in Brentwood around 4:48 a.m. after reports of a medical emergency. Officials from the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed they transported a 70-year-old woman in serious condition to a nearby hospital. She had experienced difficulty breathing prior to the incident.
Absence from Recent Awards and Final Projects
O’Hara was notably absent from the 2026 Golden Globes on January 11, where she had been nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series for her work in The Studio. During the event, her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin presented an award and reflected on their shared holiday classic.
Just months earlier, in September 2025, O’Hara reunited with longtime collaborator Eugene Levy at the Toronto International Film Festival. She received the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award, delivering an emotional acceptance speech. “Eugene, that’s too much. Thank you, darling,” she said. She added, “Darling Eugene. When I think of my happiest days in this adventure in show business, I realize most of them have been with you.”
Tributes from Hollywood Peers
As news of her death spread, tributes poured in from fellow stars. Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in the first two Home Alone films, shared a poignant Instagram post featuring a split image from the movie and their 2023 reunion at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later,” he wrote.
Pedro Pascal, who co-starred with O’Hara in season two of HBO’s The Last of Us, posted on Instagram: “Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always,” followed by a heart emoji.
Justin Theroux, her co-star in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, shared a photo of her on-set chair and wrote, “Oh Catherine. You will be so so missed.” Filmmaker Ron Howard, who collaborated with her on the 1994 film The Paper, described the news as “shattering.” “What a wonderful person, artist and collaborator,” he stated. “I was lucky enough to direct, produce and act in projects with her, and she only grew more brilliant each year. My heart goes out to Bo and family.”
Illustrious Career and Legacy
Born in Toronto, O’Hara began her career as a cast member on the legendary sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV) in the 1970s, alongside talents like John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Rick Moranis. She gained widespread recognition as Kate McCallister in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).
Her comedic prowess shone in Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), where she often starred opposite Levy. O’Hara also delivered memorable performances in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988).
In recent years, she experienced a remarkable resurgence with Schitt’s Creek, portraying the eccentric Moira Rose across all 80 episodes. For the role, she won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020. Her awards include another Emmy in 1982 for SCTV Network, eight additional nominations, and recognition with the Order of Canada in 2017. In 2025, she earned dual nominations for The Last of Us and The Studio.
O’Hara leaves behind her husband of over 30 years, Bo Welch, son Matthew, 32, and son Luke, 29. Her cause of death remains undisclosed.
