Beloved actress Catherine O’Hara, known for unforgettable roles in comedy classics and award-winning television, has died at age 71.
O’Hara died Friday, Jan. 30, according to TMZ, who cited sources close to the actress. A cause of death was not immediately released.
The Canadian-born performer became a household name across generations, first through sketch comedy and later in blockbuster films and hit television series.
She famously portrayed Kevin McCallister’s overwhelmed mother in the holiday favorite Home Alone and delivered one of her most celebrated performances as eccentric matriarch Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, earning an Emmy Award in 2020.
O’Hara’s film career spanned decades and included standout roles in Christopher Guest mockumentaries such as Best in Show and A Mighty Wind, as well as appearances in both the original Beetlejuice and its long-awaited sequel.
Her most recent work included a role opposite Seth Rogen in the Apple TV+ series The Studio, which earned her another Emmy nomination.
Long before her Hollywood success, O’Hara gained acclaim as both a performer and writer on the influential sketch series SCTV Network 90, earning her first Emmy win in 1982.
Born and raised in Toronto, she was the sixth of seven children. She met production designer Bo Welch while working on Beetlejuice. The pair married in 1992 and raised two sons together.
Across film and television, O’Hara built a reputation for scene-stealing comedic timing while also bringing warmth and humanity to her characters, making her a favorite among audiences and fellow performers alike.
She is survived by her husband and children.
