Hollywood actress Catherine O’Hara, popularly known for her roles in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, has died at 71.
Catherine O’Hara’s team confirmed that she passed away on Friday at her home in Los Angeles after a short illness.
Friends and colleagues have described her as a gifted performer, a generous collaborator and a genuinely kind person.
The Canadian performer first gained attention in Toronto as part of the Second City improv group and later on the sketch series SCTV.
She eventually broke into Hollywood, appearing in the 1988 film Beetlejuice before winning over audiences as the mother in the hugely popular holiday movie Home Alone.
In recent years, she appeared in the Emmy-winning comedy The Studio and HBO’s drama The Last of Us.
The movie star delivered several unforgettable performances throughout her career.
In Beetlejuice, she played Delia Deetz, memorably leading a dinner table possessed by spirits into a lively rendition of “Day-O.”
Two years later, her frantic cry of “Kevin!” in Home Alone became one of the most iconic moments in modern comedy.
Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in Home Alone, shared an emotional tribute, posting photos of them together and expressing his love and gratitude for the time they shared.
Born in Toronto, O’Hara began her career working as a waitress at a Second City theatre before auditioning and joining the troupe.
She sharpened her comic skills on SCTV, working alongside talents such as Eugene Levy and John Candy.
She often said her Canadian upbringing shaped her sense of humour, explaining in a 2020 interview that Canadians tend not to take themselves too seriously and are comfortable laughing at both others and themselves.
Tributes have poured in from across Canada and beyond.
Prime Minister Mark Carney called her a legend of Canadian comedy, praising her decades of work from stage productions like Godspell to television hits such as Schitt’s Creek.
O’Hara also frequently worked with director Christopher Guest and longtime collaborator Eugene Levy.
She appeared in several well-received mockumentaries, including Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration.
Her role in the latter earned her a National Board of Review Award in 2006. Guest said her passing marked the loss of one of the great comedic talents of her time.
Later in her career, she experienced a major resurgence with Schitt’s Creek, which became especially popular during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The series followed a once-wealthy family forced to rebuild their lives in a small town. O’Hara’s portrayal of Moira Rose stood out, thanks to the character’s dramatic accent, bold fashion, and sharp humour.
When she won an Emmy for the role, she thanked Eugene and Dan Levy for giving her the chance to portray a woman her own age without limitations.
Dan Levy later said working with her was a privilege and described her as someone whose talent and warmth left a lasting impact.
She remained active almost until the end of her life. In The Last of Us, she played a therapist, and in The Studio, she took on the role of a former studio executive navigating a changing industry.
She had previously won a Golden Globe for Schitt’s Creek in 2021 and received additional nominations this year for her recent work. She is also nominated at the upcoming Actor Awards for her performance in The Studio.
Actor and filmmaker Seth Rogen shared that O’Hara had long been one of his biggest inspirations. He recalled telling her that she was the funniest person he had ever seen on screen and said working with her was a true honour.
Director Judd Apatow also paid tribute, calling her brilliant, kind, and consistently hilarious over five decades.
Catherine O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, their two sons, Matthew and Luke, and several siblings.
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