Catherine O’Hara, a cherished actress known for her roles in “Schitt’s Creek,” “Home Alone,” and “Beetlejuice,” died at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness. She was 71 years old.
Catherine O’Hara died on January 30, 2026. Earlier that morning, emergency services responded to her Brentwood residence at 4:48 AM after she experienced breathing difficulties, and she was transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition.
O’Hara’s career spanned more than five decades and made lasting impacts in the entertainment industry. She began her career on “SCTV Network 90” and eventually won an Emmy for her portrayal of Moira Rose in “Schitt’s Creek.” Her first Emmy was won in 1982 for her writing on “SCTV Network 90,” and she won her second in 2020 for her performance in “Schitt’s Creek.” In 2021, she won a Golden Globe for the same role.
O’Hara, the sixth of seven children, was born and raised in Toronto. She started her career at Second City in Canada before becoming a versatile performer in Hollywood. She was an understudy for comedian Gilda Radner and gained fame on “SCTV,” where she charmed audiences with impressions of Lucille Ball, Meryl Streep, and Katharine Hepburn. Her unique comedic timing and her ability to blend humor and genuine emotion made her a notable figure in all her projects.
Her role as Kevin McCallister’s mother in the 1990s “Home Alone” series solidified her status in pop culture. Her famous line “KEVIN!” became a cinema classic. O’Hara played Macaulay Culkin’s mother in the first two “Home Alone” movies, adding both humor and sentiment to these holiday classics for over 30 years.
At Culkin’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in December 2023, O’Hara delivered a speech that reflected their enduring on-screen relationship. “Thank you for including me, your fake mom, who left you home alone not once but twice, to share in this happy occasion,” she said. “I’m so proud of you.”
Upon hearing of her demise, Culkin posted a touching tribute, “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.”
Chris Columbus, the director of “Home Alone,” shared his sadness over O’Hara’s death. “What most people don’t realize is that Catherine carries the weight of 50% of that film,” Columbus said. “The movie simply would not work without her extraordinary performance.”
O’Hara’s roles varied widely. She played Delia Deetz in director Tim Burton’s 1988 “Beetlejuice,” where she met her future husband, production designer Bo Welch. They married in 1992 and had two sons, Matthew and Luke. In 2024, O’Hara reprised her “Beetlejuice” role in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
O’Hara worked with director Christopher Guest on several acclaimed mockumentaries. She featured in “Waiting for Guffman” in 1996, “Best in Show” in 2000, “A Mighty Wind” in 2003, and “For Your Consideration” in 2006. Guest expressed his devastation following her death, “We have lost one of the comic giants of our age.”
O’Hara attained new career heights with “Schitt’s Creek,” which began in 2015 and became a cultural sensation. Her portrayal of Moira Rose, a theatrically dramatic former soap star adjusting to small-town life, brought her critical acclaim and introduced her to a younger audience. For this role, she won multiple awards, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Recently, O’Hara played roles opposite actor Seth Rogen in Apple TV+’s “The Studio” and actor Pedro Pascal in HBO’s “The Last of Us.” Both roles earned her Emmy nominations at the 2025 ceremony, showcasing her enduring talent and industry relevance. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for “The Studio” but did not attend the January 2026 ceremony.
When asked by TMZ at LAX in February 2024 which role she would most want to be remembered for, O’Hara gave a characteristically heartfelt response: “The mother of my children,” referring to her two sons. When the interviewer clarified he meant her acting roles, she quipped while gesturing to her husband, “His wife.” Her work, from the stages of Toronto’s Second City to Hollywood’s silver screens, touched audiences deeply and left a lasting legacy.
O’Hara received several prestigious awards throughout her career, including two Emmys, a Golden Globe, and two SAG Awards. In 2017, she was appointed to the Order of Canada, and in 2021, she was named the honorary mayor of Brentwood.
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke. Her agency announced that a private celebration of life will be held by the family.