Catherine O’Hara Quietly Lived With a Rare Genetic Condition Since Birth

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Catherine O’Hara, the beloved actress, passed away on Friday, January 30, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles. She was 71 years old. According to reports from Variety and Deadline, she died peacefully after a brief illness, surrounded by her family.

CAA, her talent agency, confirmed the news and requested privacy for her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons. The cause of death has not yet been made public.

Following her death, people learned about a health condition that actress O’Hara had lived with since birth. She had a rare genetic condition called dextrocardia with situs inversus, where her heart and other organs were located on the opposite side of her body than usual.

In a 2020 interview with Kathryn Hall on Virtual Happy Hour, O’Hara discussed a medical condition she has. Doctors discovered it unexpectedly during a routine test some time ago. She jokingly referred to herself as a “freak,” adding that she prefers not to even learn the name of the condition. She explained that a scan revealed her heart is located on the right side of her chest, rather than the left.

I’ve been reading about situs inversus, and it’s actually pretty interesting. Doctors say it’s usually not a dangerous condition at all! In fact, the Cleveland Clinic says a lot of people don’t even know they have it because they never experience any symptoms. It mostly becomes something doctors need to be aware of if there’s a medical emergency – they just need to know which side everything is on to provide the best care.

CAA announced that actress Carol O’Hara passed away after a short illness, but didn’t provide any further information. Since the news broke, fans and colleagues have been expressing their sadness and admiration, remembering her as a comedic legend.

O’Hara remained active and worked consistently throughout her life. She recently received praise and another Emmy nomination for her appearance in the Apple TV+ series, The Studio, and also appeared in the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us.

Catherine O’Hara recently reprised her role as Delia Deetz in the film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and also lent her voice to a character in the animated movie The Wild Robot. Her long and successful career began on the Canadian comedy show SCTV. She gained widespread recognition for her work in Home Alone and through her collaborations with director Christopher Guest. More recently, a new generation of fans discovered her talent thanks to her award-winning portrayal of Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek.

O’Hara was celebrated throughout her career for her talent, kindness, and witty sense of humor. People she worked with frequently commented that she always improved any project she was a part of.

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2026-01-31 10:44