Catherine O’Hara, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, passed away on Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 71 following a brief illness.
Her family, including husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke, plans to hold a private celebration of life in her honor. An obituary confirms the intimate memorial gathering.
Medical Emergency and Hospitalization
The actress experienced a medical emergency at her Brentwood home, prompting first responders to arrive around 5 a.m. She reported difficulty breathing and was transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. A department spokesperson noted the response to a medical aid request at 4:48 a.m. for an approximately 70-year-old female. The exact cause of death remains undisclosed.
O’Hara leaves behind her husband of over 30 years, Bo Welch, along with sons Matthew, 32, and Luke, 29.
Recent Absence and Industry Recognition
O’Hara was notably absent from the 2026 Golden Globes on January 11, where she earned a nomination 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 the Best Screenplay award and reflected on their shared holiday classic.
Tributes from Hollywood Stars
News of her passing prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues. 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 Highlights
A Toronto native, O’Hara began her career as part of the iconic Second City Television (SCTV) cast in the 1970s, alongside comedy legends like John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Rick Moranis. She gained widespread fame as Kate McCallister in the first two Home Alone films.
Her collaborations with Eugene Levy spanned decades, starting with SCTV and continuing in mockumentaries like Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Just weeks before her death, O’Hara reunited with Levy at the Toronto International Film Festival, where she received the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award. In her emotional acceptance speech, she said, “Eugene, that’s too much. Thank you, darling.” 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.”
O’Hara’s memorable roles also included the ghostly Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988). She experienced a remarkable resurgence as the eccentric Moira Rose in all 80 episodes of Schitt’s Creek, earning an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020.
Her accolades include an Emmy in 1982 for SCTV Network, eight additional nominations, and induction into the Order of Canada in 2017. In 2025, she received dual nominations for The Last of Us and The Studio.
