LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30,2026 – Catherine O’Hara,the brilliantly versatile actor celebrated for her iconic roles in “Schitt’s Creek,” “Home Alone,” and “Best in Show,” has died after a brief illness,her manager confirmed to Variety. She was 71.
A Comedy Legend’s Enduring Legacy
O’Hara’s career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on film, television, and comedy.
- O’Hara began her career in the 1970s with the Canadian sketch show SCTV.
- She achieved widespread recognition with roles in films like “Home Alone” and Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice.”
- Her portrayal of Moira rose in “schitt’s Creek” earned her critical acclaim and an Emmy Award.
- O’Hara seamlessly blended comedy and drama, captivating audiences with her nuanced performances.
O’Hara’s comedic journey began in the 1970s as a key player in the groundbreaking Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV. She transitioned to film in the 1980s, landing her first major screen role in the romantic comedy “Nothing Personal” alongside Donald sutherland. In 1985, she showcased her range in Martin Scorsese’s darkly comedic “After Hours.”
What made Catherine O’Hara such a beloved performer? Her ability to inhabit eccentric and unforgettable characters, coupled with her impeccable timing and emotional depth, set her apart.
In 1988, O’Hara starred in Tim Burton’s cult classic “Beetlejuice,” a role she revisited in the 2024 sequel. It was on the set of the original “Beetlejuice” that she met her future husband, production designer Bo Welch, and they married in 1992.
Millions remember O’Hara as the delightfully exasperated mother in the 1990 blockbuster “Home Alone,” a role she reprised in the 1992 sequel. “It’s a perfect movie, isn’t it?” she remarked to People in 2024, fondly recalling the experience.
Her role as Moira Rose in the critically acclaimed television series “Schitt’s Creek” garnered her an Emmy nomination. Pedro Pascal, her co-star in “The Last of Us,” paid tribute on Instagram, writing, “Oh, genius to be near you. eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always.”
O’Hara’s performance in the award-winning comedy series “The Studio” with Seth Rogen also earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Ron Howard,who directed her in the 1992 comedy-drama “The Paper,” expressed his devastation on social media,calling her “a fantastic person,artist and collaborator” who was “simply growing more brilliant with each year.” rita Wilson also described her as “authentic and truthful” in an Instagram post.
“I’m always drawn to characters who have no idea of the impression they’re making on other people,” O’Hara shared in 2021. “We’re all delusional, really, and I love that about us humans and I love playing it.”
