NAIROBI, Kenya – The world of film and television is mourning the loss of Catherine O’Hara. The award-winning actress died from a pulmonary embolism, according to her death certificate, bringing clarity to the circumstances surrounding her death last month. She was 71.
O’Hara died on January 30 at a hospital in Santa Monica. The certificate lists a blood clot in the lungs as the immediate cause of death, with rectal cancer noted as a long-term condition. Records show she had been receiving treatment for the illness since March 2025.
What the Death Certificate Reveals
A pulmonary embolism is a serious and often sudden medical emergency. According to the UK’s NHS, it occurs when a blood clot blocks a vessel in the lungs, restricting blood flow and oxygen. Symptoms can include sudden breathlessness, chest pain, and coughing up blood.
In O’Hara’s case, the embolism was listed as the primary cause of death, while rectal cancer was recorded as a contributing condition. There was no indication of foul play.
Tributes From Co-Stars and Collaborators
As news of the cause of death emerged, tributes continued to pour in from colleagues who worked closely with O’Hara across decades.
Actor and The Studio creator Seth Rogen described her as “hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous,” adding, “We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.”
Pedro Pascal, her co-star on HBO’s The Last of Us, wrote on Instagram: “Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world.”
Her Schitt’s Creek family also shared emotional messages. Eugene Levy, who worked with O’Hara for over 50 years, told People magazine that words felt “inadequate” to express his loss. Dan Levy, who played her son on the show, called her “family before she ever played my family.”
Macaulay Culkin, her on-screen son in Home Alone and Home Alone 2, posted a deeply personal tribute, writing: “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more.”
A Career That Defined Comedy
O’Hara starred in six seasons of Schitt’s Creek, earning an Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Her career spanned film, television, and voice acting, with memorable roles in Beetlejuice, Best in Show, Home Alone, and more recently, the Emmy-winning The Studio.
She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, their sons Matthew and Luke, and her six siblings.
Her legacy is unmistakable. Sharp timing. Emotional depth. Comedy that felt human. Catherine O’Hara didn’t just make audiences laugh—she made them feel seen.