Catherine O’Hara, the Canadian-American actress, comedian and Emmy Award winner known for her unforgettable roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice and Schitt’s Creek, has died at the age of 71, her manager confirmed on Friday.
O’Hara passed away at her home in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026, following a brief illness, according to a statement from her management agency. At the time of her death, no specific cause had been announced.
Her five-decade career spanned film, television, sketch comedy and voice work. She first found fame as part of the influential Canadian sketch troupe Second City Television (SCTV), where she earned her first Emmy Award for writing in 1982.
O’Hara went on to become a familiar face in Hollywood, memorably playing Kevin McCallister’s mother in the classic Home Alone films and Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. In 2015, her career was revitalised when she starred as the eccentric Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, a role that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award and made her a beloved figure to a new generation of fans.
In recent years, she appeared in acclaimed projects such as the Apple TV+ comedy The Studio and HBO’s drama The Last of Us, showcasing her range from comedy to drama late into her career.
Tributes have poured in from fans and fellow actors alike. Macaulay Culkin, her Home Alone co-star, and Pedro Pascal, with whom she worked on The Last of Us, were among those publicly mourning her passing, calling her talent and presence irreplaceable.
O’Hara is survived by her husband of 33 years, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons. Her legacy as one of comedy’s most gifted and versatile performers will endure through her iconic performances on screen and in the hearts of audiences worldwide.
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