Catherine O’Hara, Emmy-Winning Actor and Comedian, Dies at 71

Catherine O’Hara Dies at 71 After Brief Illness

Catherine O’Hara, an actor known for her work in projects including “Schitt’s Creek,” “Home Alone,” and “Best in Show,” died at the age of 71. Her manager confirmed her death and stated that she died after a brief illness.

Early Career and Breakthrough Roles

O’Hara began her comedy career in the 1970s and helped create the Canadian sketch show SCTV. She moved into film in the 1980s, earning her first major big-screen credit in the romantic comedy “Nothing Personal” with Donald Sutherland. In 1985, she appeared in Martin Scorsese’s black comedy “After Hours.”

In 1988, O’Hara starred in Tim Burton’s comedy horror film “Beetlejuice.” She later reprised her role in the 2024 sequel to “Beetlejuice.” During the production of the original film, she met production designer Bo Welch. The two married in 1992.

Iconic Film Work Including Home Alone

O’Hara played the mother of Macaulay Culkin’s character in the 1990 comedy “Home Alone,” a commercially successful film. She returned to the same role in the 1992 sequel. In 2024, she described “Home Alone” as a “perfect movie” and said that working on it was “lovely,” noting that the children who played the family’s children were “just lovely.”

O’Hara recently appeared at Macaulay Culkin’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, where she was seen wiping away tears while praising him. Following news of her death, Culkin paid tribute to her on Instagram, expressing love for her and writing that he thought they had more time together and that he would “see [her] later.”

Collaboration with Christopher Guest

Beginning in 1996, O’Hara worked extensively with filmmaker Christopher Guest, first starring in the mockumentary “Waiting for Guffman.” She went on to appear in three additional Guest-directed films: “Best in Show,” “A Mighty Wind,” and “For Your Consideration,” released in 2006. Guest later praised her ability to perform both comedy and emotionally driven material, describing her shift into emotional areas as “amazing.”

Voice Work and Television Success

O’Hara provided voice performances in multiple animated films, including “Chicken Little,” “Over the Hedge,” “Monster House,” “Frankenweenie,” and, most recently, “The Wild Robot.”

On television, O’Hara appeared in series such as “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Six Feet Under,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “30 Rock.” She later reunited with fellow SCTV alumnus Eugene Levy in the sitcom “Schitt’s Creek.” The series ran for six seasons and earned O’Hara an Emmy award for her performance. In a 2021 interview, she said it was more fun to work with someone she knew and that working alone made her feel too nervous, as though it was “showing off.”

Her later television work included roles in “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and “The Last of Us.” Her performance in “The Last of Us” received an Emmy nomination. She also appeared in the award-winning comedy series “The Studio” with Seth Rogen, a role that brought her both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Industry Tributes and Final Reflections

Several colleagues publicly honored O’Hara after her death. Her “Last of Us” co-star Pedro Pascal wrote on Instagram that he felt “eternally grateful” to have been near her and stated that there was “less light” in his world following her death.

Ron Howard, who directed O’Hara in the 1992 comedy drama “The Paper,” said that the news of her death was “shattering” and described her as a wonderful person, artist, and collaborator. He stated he had been “lucky” to direct, produce, and act in projects with her, and that she grew more brilliant with each year.

Meryl Streep, who acted with O’Hara in the film “Heartburn,” said that O’Hara brought “love and light” to the world through her portrayals of eccentric characters. Rita Wilson described O’Hara as “authentic and truthful in all she did,” and Lily Tomlin wrote that she was “bright, beautiful, and full of joy that touched so many.”

Mike Myers stated that her death marked “a very sad day for comedy and for Canada.” He called her one of the greatest comedy artists in history, an inspiration for millions, and “a very elegant lady,” and he sent love and condolences to her family.

In 2021, O’Hara said she was drawn to characters who were unaware of the impression they made on others. She remarked that people are “all delusional” and said she enjoyed that aspect of humanity and enjoyed playing such characters.