Catherine O’Hara, Star of HOME ALONE and SCHITT’S CREEK, Dies at 71

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Beloved Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71. She was a comedic force for decades, best known for her memorable roles in films like Home Alone and Beetlejuice, the TV series Schitt’s Creek, and several hilarious mockumentaries by Christopher Guest, including Best in Show. The news was first reported by Variety. While the cause of death hasn’t been released, O’Hara leaves behind a remarkable fifty-year career filled with accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Catherine O’Hara started her career on the Canadian comedy show SCTV, where she worked from 1976 to 1984. She then moved on to films, including After Hours. In 1988, she played the eccentric Delia Deetz, Winona Ryder’s stepmother, in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. However, she became widely recognized in 1990 when she starred as Macaulay Culkin’s mother in Home Alone. She’s also done extensive voice work, including roles in The Nightmare Before Christmas and, more recently, Elemental. During the 1990s, she began collaborating with Christopher Guest on his unique, improvised mockumentary films, starting with Waiting for Guffman.

Catherine O’Hara experienced a major career comeback in 2015 with her role as Moira Rose on the hit comedy series Schitt’s Creek. She starred alongside longtime collaborator Eugene Levy, and her portrayal of the family matriarch earned her both an Emmy and a Golden Globe. While best known for comedy, O’Hara proved her dramatic range in the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us. She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke, as well as a devoted fanbase who cherished her brilliant comedic timing throughout her career.

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2026-01-30 22:02