Catherine O’Hara dead at 71: Legendary Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek star passes away four months after final public appearance

Popular actress Catherine O’Hara, known for productions such as Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone and Best in Show, passed away at the age of 71.

In the statement made by CAA, the agency that represents O’Hara, it was stated that the actress died on Friday “at her home in Los Angeles after a short illness”, but the cause of death has not yet been announced.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Brigade told the Daily Mail: ‘We responded to a request for medical assistance at this address at 4:48 am and transported a female, approximately 70 years old, in serious condition.’

The Daily Mail has requested comment from O’Hara’s representatives.

She leaves behind her husband of more than 30 years, Bo Welch, and sons Matthew, 32, and Luke, 29.

O’Hara was last seen looking frail on the red carpet at the Emmys in September.

According to a statement from her agency CAA, O’Hara passed away at her home in Los Angeles on Friday “following a short illness”; (O’Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek)

The actress became a household name when she played Macaulay Culkin’s mother in the first two Home Alone films; (Photo taken with Culkin in Home Alone)

O’Hara was notably absent from the 2026 Golden Globe Awards on January 11, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Television for the film The Studio.

The ceremony saw Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin take the stage to present the award for Best Screenplay – Motion Picture and reflect on his role in the holiday classic.

Send the audio obtained by TMZ He explained that he was having trouble breathing at home before being hospitalized on Friday.

As news of O’Hara’s tragic death spread, Culkin led the tribute on Instagram with a heartbreaking post.

She shared a split image, one from the classic Home Alone movie and the other from a more recent reunion at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2023.

‘Mother. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit on the chair next to him. I heard you. But I had more to say. I love you. “See you later,” he wrote.

Other stars also paid tribute, including Pedro Pascal, who starred alongside O’Hara in the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us.

Posting on Instagram, he wrote: ‘Oh, being around you is a genius. We are forever grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that has you will always keep you. Always’, I add a heart emoji.

Justin Theroux, who starred with O’Hara in Beetlejuice, shared a photo of his eponymous chair on the set and simply wrote, “Oh Catherine.” You will be greatly missed.’

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘At 4:48 p.m. we responded to a request for medical assistance at this address and transported an approximately 70-year-old female in serious condition.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told the Daily Mail: ‘At 4:48 p.m. we responded to a request for medical assistance at this address and transported an approximately 70-year-old female in serious condition;’ (O’Hara’s home on January 30, 2026)

As news of O’Hara’s tragic death spread, Culkin led the tribute on Instagram with a heartbreaking post.

O’Hara played Macaulay Culkin’s mother in the first two Home Alone films.

And filmmaker Ron Howard, who worked with O’Hara on the 1994 film The Paper, described the loss as ‘shattering news’. ‘What a wonderful person, artist and collaborator,’ he wrote.

‘I’ve been lucky enough to direct, produce and star in projects with him, and he’s shined brighter with each passing year. My heart goes out to Bo and her family.’

Just a week before her surprising appearance at the 2025 Emmy Awards in September, O’Hara reunited with longtime collaborator Eugene Levy as she was honored with the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Levy was clearly emotional as he presented her with the gold award, and a heartfelt acceptance speech was given.

‘Eugene, this is too much. ‘Thank you, darling,’ he said after we met.

The star continued: ‘My darling Eugene. ‘When I think back to my happiest days in this adventure in show business, I realize most of them were with you.’

Their on-screen partnership dates back to the 1970s, when they first shared the screen on the Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television.

They co-starred in the 1996 comedy-musical Waiting for Guffman, which Levy co-wrote with Christopher Guest, and later in the 2000 dog show satire Best in Show, playing Gerry and Cookie Fleck.

Fans also remember his memorable turns in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice; (Photo taken with Geena Davis in 1988)

Beetlejuice became one of O’Hara’s biggest hits; (Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, O’Hara, Winona Ryder and Jeffrey Jones in 1988)

Eugene Levy and O’Hara Star in the Best Show of the 2000s

O’Hara was revived in Schitt’s Creek; (Dan Levy, Annie Murphy, Emily Hampshire, O’Hara and Levy at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards)

A Toronto native, O’Hara began his career as a member of the legendary SCTV cast and helped launch the careers of comedy icons such as John Candy, Eugene Levy and Rick Moranis; (painting 1981)

O’Hara met production designer Bo Welch on the set of Beetlejuice; They married in 1992 and had two sons: Matthew (born 1994) and Luke (born 1997); (Photo taken with Welch in 1990)

O’Hara and Levy continued their collaboration in 2003 with A Mighty Wind, a mockumentary about a fictional folk music gathering, and again in 2006 with For Your Consideration, a Hollywood spoof in which O’Hara played an actor and Levy played her co-star’s manager.

A Toronto native, O’Hara began his career as a member of the legendary SCTV cast and helped launch the careers of comedy icons such as John Candy, Levy and Rick Moranis.

The actress became a household name when she played Culkin’s mother in the first two Home Alone films and wowed audiences as the eccentric Moira Rose in all 80 episodes of Schitt’s Creek.

His comedic talent also shined in popular mockumentaries such as Christopher Guest’s Best in Show (2000) and A Mighty Wind (2003).

Fans also remember his memorable turns in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice.

She revived her career on Schitt’s Creek last decade, winning an Emmy for her portrayal of the eccentric Moira Rose.

In 2020, she received the award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for this role.

O’Hara was reunited with her longtime collaborator Eugene Levy as she was awarded the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Culkin had a sweet reunion with his Home Alone mom, O’Hara, while introducing her to her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in 2023.

His talent extended far beyond comedy; 2025’s The Studio showcased his ability to effortlessly switch between comedic and dramatic roles.

O’Hara’s awards resume was already formidable: She won an Emmy in 1982 for her work on SCTV Network and in 2020 for her iconic role as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek; It earned eight more nominations for acting and writing.

In 2017, he was awarded the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest awards.

In 2025, he received a rare double nomination, known for his guest role on HBO’s The Last of Us and his performance in The Studio.