Catherine O'Hara, the two-time Emmy-winning actress known for her roles in 'Schitt's Creek' and 'Home Alone,' has died at age 71. She passed away on January 30, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness. Tributes from co-stars highlight her brilliance and enduring impact on comedy.
Catherine O'Hara's death on January 30, 2026, marks the end of a five-decade career that blended sharp comedy with heartfelt performances. Born in Toronto, she began with the Canadian sketch series 'SCTV' in 1976, earning her first Emmy in 1982 for writing on 'SCTV Network' and four nominations overall. Her film work included playing Kate McCallister in the first two 'Home Alone' movies (1990 and 1992), where she portrayed the frantic mother of Macaulay Culkin's Kevin, maintaining a close friendship with him—he honored her at his 2023 Walk of Fame ceremony. She also starred as Delia Deetz in 'Beetlejuice' (1988) and its 2024 sequel 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,' and collaborated frequently with Christopher Guest in mockumentaries like 'Best in Show' (2000), 'Waiting for Guffman' (1996), 'A Mighty Wind' (2003), and 'For Your Consideration' (2006).
O'Hara's late-career resurgence came with 'Schitt's Creek' (2015-2020), where she played the eccentric Moira Rose opposite Eugene Levy and his son Dan, winning the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2025, she received dual Emmy nominations: for Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her role as Patty Leigh, a deposed studio executive and mentor, in Apple TV+'s 'The Studio'—a Seth Rogen-created showbiz satire that debuted that year and won 13 Emmys, including Best Comedy Series; and for Guest Actress in a Drama for her portrayal of grieving therapist Gail in HBO's 'The Last of Us.' 'The Studio' also swept the Critics' Choice Awards and Golden Globes, with O'Hara nominated for supporting actress at the Globes, though she did not attend the January 2026 ceremony.
Filming for Season 2 of 'The Studio' began shortly after, but O'Hara was absent due to personal matters and did not film any scenes, per reports. In a 2025 Variety interview, she reflected on Hollywood's evolution: "It must be a much more nervous business now, than in the past. The internet and streaming must have opened up a world of good and horrific possibilities for people." She is survived by husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke.
Co-stars paid swift tributes. Macaulay Culkin wrote on Instagram: "I thought we had time... I love you. I'll see you later." Seth Rogen shared: "She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous... This is just devastating." Pedro Pascal added: "Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful." Ron Howard called her a "wonderful person, artist and collaborator" who was "growing more brilliant with each year." Ike Barinholtz noted: "So incredibly grateful I got to spend the time I did with her. Thank you Catherine, I love you." While Variety reported a brief illness as the cause, other outlets have not disclosed details.
