Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated Canadian actress whose work shaped generations of comedy lovers, has died at the age of 71. Best remembered for her unforgettable performances in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and the Emmy-winning series Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara passed away at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness, her agent confirmed.
O’Hara’s journey began in Toronto, where she honed her comedic instincts at the famed Second City theatre before becoming a breakout star on Second City Television (SCTV). Alongside fellow comedy greats like Eugene Levy and John Candy, she helped define an era of sharp, character-driven sketch comedy that earned international acclaim.
Her transition to Hollywood brought two of her most iconic roles. In Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988), she played the eccentric Delia Deetz, while her role as Kevin McCallister’s frantic mother in Home Alone (1990) cemented her place in pop culture history. Her anguished cry of “Kevin!” remains one of cinema’s most memorable moments.
Later in her career, O’Hara experienced a remarkable resurgence with Schitt’s Creek. As the flamboyant and endlessly quotable Moira Rose, she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe, earning praise for portraying a woman allowed to be unapologetically eccentric at any age. The show’s creators and cast, including Eugene and Dan Levy, frequently credited her brilliance as central to its success.
Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world. Macaulay Culkin remembered her with deep affection, while collaborators like Christopher Guest, Seth Rogen, and Judd Apatow hailed her as a once-in-a-generation comic talent. They referred to her as hilarious, generous, and deeply kind.
O’Hara continued working until shortly before her death, appearing in HBO’s The Last of Us and Seth Rogen’s The Studio. She is survived by her husband Bo Welch, their two sons, and her extended family.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Catherine O’Hara leaves behind a legacy of laughter, originality, and heart that will endure long after the curtain falls.
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