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Credit: Netflix Catherine O’Hara, the powerhouse comedic actress who captivated audiences for more than four decades with her sharp wit, impeccable timing, and unforgettable characters, has died at age 71. TMZ broke the news Friday, citing two sources with direct knowledge of her passing. The cause of death remains unclear at this time.
O’Hara’s career spanned generations and mediums, from her early days on Canadian sketch comedy television to becoming a household name through iconic film roles and her Emmy-winning performance as Moira Rose in “Schitt’s Creek.” She possessed that rare ability to make you laugh and cry, often in the same scene, and her influence on comedy, particularly for women in the industry, cannot be overstated.
Whether you knew her as Kevin McCallister’s frantic mother in “Home Alone,” the eccentric owner of a small-town motel, or the voice of Sally in “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” O’Hara brought authenticity, warmth, and hilarious chaos to every role she touched.
Born and raised in Toronto as the sixth of seven children in an Irish-Canadian family, O’Hara began her career in the 1970s with Toronto’s Second City improvisational comedy troupe. That foundation in improv would become the bedrock of her entire career, giving her the skills to create memorable characters seemingly out of thin air and elevate every script she worked with.
Her death marks the end of an era for comedy fans who grew up watching her work, and the loss will be felt deeply across Hollywood and beyond.
Early Career and SCTV Breakthrough
Catherine O’Hara’s rise to prominence began with “SCTV” (Second City Television), the sketch comedy series that launched in 1976. The show became a breeding ground for comedic talent, and O’Hara quickly stood out with her ability to create distinct, bizarre, and completely believable characters. She won her first Emmy Award in 1982 for her writing contributions to “SCTV Network 90,” showcasing that her talents extended beyond performance into crafting the comedy itself.
On “SCTV,” O’Hara created memorable recurring characters and celebrity impressions that demonstrated her range. She could play anyone from talk show hosts to lounge singers to absurd parodies of famous actresses, always finding the humanity and humor in even the most outlandish premises. The show ran until 1984, but its impact on comedy television lasted decades, influencing shows like “Saturday Night Live” and countless sketch programs that followed.
The Home Alone Phenomenon
While O’Hara had already established herself in comedy circles, 1990’s “Home Alone” catapulted her to mainstream recognition. As Kate McCallister, the mother who accidentally leaves her son behind during a Christmas vacation to Paris, O’Hara delivered a performance that balanced slapstick comedy with genuine maternal panic. Her frantic journey to reunite with Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin became as memorable as the film’s booby trap sequences.
She reprised the role in 1992’s “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” and both films became holiday staples that continue to air every Christmas season. Generations of families have watched O’Hara’s Kate realize with dawning horror that she forgot her child, making her scream of “KEVIN!” one of the most quoted movie lines of the 1990s.
Christopher Guest Collaborations
O’Hara’s work with director Christopher Guest produced some of the most acclaimed mockumentaries in film history. In 2000’s “Best in Show,” she played Cookie Fleck, a dog show enthusiast with a colorful past and impeccable comic timing opposite Eugene Levy. The film showcased O’Hara’s improvisational brilliance, as Guest’s films typically worked from outlines rather than fully scripted dialogue.
She reunited with Guest for 2003’s “A Mighty Wind,” playing a folk singer navigating a reunion concert, and 2006’s “For Your Consideration,” about actors hoping for Oscar nominations. These collaborations highlighted O’Hara’s ability to create rich, layered characters even in ensemble casts packed with comedic talent.
The Beetlejuice Connection
O’Hara’s role in Tim Burton’s 1988 “Beetlejuice” introduced her to both a new audience and her future husband, production designer Bo Welch. In the film, she played Delia Deetz, a pretentious artist and stepmother whose modern aesthetic clashes spectacularly with the haunted house she moves into. The role required O’Hara to balance absurdity with sincerity, something she excelled at throughout her career.
She returned to the character 36 years later in 2024’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” proving that her comedic instincts remained as sharp as ever. The sequel introduced her to a new generation of fans while delighting longtime admirers of the original film.
Schitt’s Creek and Career Renaissance
While O’Hara had never stopped working, 2015’s “Schitt’s Creek” gave her a career-defining role that earned widespread critical acclaim and introduced her to audiences who may have missed her earlier work. As Moira Rose, the former soap opera star adjusting to life in a small town after losing her fortune, O’Hara created a character that was simultaneously ridiculous and deeply sympathetic.
Moira’s affected accent, dramatic wigs, and malapropisms could have been one-note in lesser hands, but O’Hara imbued her with vulnerability and growth across the show’s six seasons. She appeared in 80 episodes, earning Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2019 and 2020, winning in 2020. The win came during the show’s final season sweep, when “Schitt’s Creek” made history by winning all seven major comedy categories.
Later Work and Legacy
O’Hara continued working steadily into 2025, most recently appearing opposite Seth Rogen in Apple TV+’s “The Studio.” Her performance earned her another Emmy nomination, proving that even in her 70s, she remained at the top of her craft. She also lent her distinctive voice to animated projects, including Netflix’s “Extinct” and various other productions.
Throughout her career, O’Hara worked repeatedly with longtime collaborator Eugene Levy, her friend from the Second City days. Their on-screen chemistry, whether as husband and wife in “Schitt’s Creek” or various characters in Christopher Guest’s films, became one of comedy’s most reliable partnerships.
She married Bo Welch in 1992, and they had two sons together, Matthew and Luke. Despite her fame, O’Hara maintained relative privacy about her personal life, letting her work speak for itself.
This one really hurts. Catherine O’Hara made comedy look effortless when we all know how hard it actually is. If you’ve got a favorite Catherine O’Hara moment or role, share it in the comments. I think a lot of us are going to be rewatching “Schitt’s Creek” and “Home Alone” this weekend.