Catherine O’Hara, Legendary Actress and Comedian, Dies at 71

Catherine O’Hara, one of the most beloved and versatile performers in film and television, has died at the age of 71.

O’Hara passed away on January 30, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness, her representative confirmed.

Born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Ontario, Catherine O’Hara’s journey into entertainment began in Canada’s vibrant comedy scene.

Her early breakthrough came with the influential sketch comedy program Second City Television (SCTV), where her sharp wit and impressive character work made her a standout performer alongside future comedy icons.

“I never took comedy for granted,” O’Hara once said about her SCTV years, reflecting on how sketch work shaped her approach to performance.

That foundation in improvisation and character comedy would become a hallmark of her later work.

O’Hara’s transition from Canadian television to Hollywood was seamless. In the 1980s and 1990s, she appeared in a string of memorable films.

She played the energetic and outlandish Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, an early role that showcased her flair for the eccentric.

She also starred as Kate McCallister, the devoted and frazzled mother in the holiday classic Home Alone and its sequel, helping make the films enduring favorites across generations.

Across decades she worked with directors and actors who admired her range.

Her collaborations included a series of Christopher Guest mockumentaries such as Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, where her knack for layered, improvisational comedy continued to shine.

O’Hara’s voice also became familiar in animation, lending her talents to films like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Over the Hedge, Monster House, Frankenweenie and more recently The Wild Robot and Elemental.

These roles introduced her to younger audiences and highlighted her versatility beyond live-action work.

While she had already built a rich career, O’Hara enjoyed a creative renaissance in her 60s with the Canadian sitcom Schitt’s Creek. As the eccentric and dramatic Moira Rose, she delivered a performance that was both hilariously outlandish and deeply heartfelt.

The role earned her multiple accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild honors alongside her co-stars.

Created by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek became a global phenomenon, cherished for its warmth, humor and emotional honesty. O’Hara’s Moira, with her elaborate wigs, bizarre pronunciations and unpredictable antics, became an instant fan favorite and a defining television character of the 2010s.

Even in the years leading up to her death, O’Hara remained active in high-profile projects. In 2025 and early 2026, she appeared in the Apple TV+ comedy The Studio and the HBO series The Last of Us, earning critical praise and nominations for her supporting performances.

Her final public appearance came at the 2025 Emmy Awards, where she attended alongside her husband, production designer Bo Welch, with whom she shared two sons, Luke and Matthew.

The outpouring of tributes following O’Hara’s death has been immense. Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin paid an emotional tribute on social media, writing simply: “Mama. I thought we had time.”

Actors including Pedro Pascal also honoured her talent and generosity, describing her as a “genius” whose presence enriched every project she touched.