Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71, according to a report first published by TMZ. Citing two sources with direct knowledge, the outlet reported that O’Hara died on Friday. A cause of death has not been disclosed, as reported by Decider.
Born in Toronto in 1954, O’Hara began her career in comedy shortly after graduating high school, working as a waitress at the city’s Second City Theatre, according to People.
She joined the theater company in 1974, and two years later became a cast member of the sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV), which debuted in 1976.
Catherine O’Hara has passed away at the age of 71 pic.twitter.com/ZGyVLxIgnt
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 30, 2026
The show played a central role in launching O’Hara’s career alongside fellow performers John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Rick Moranis. O’Hara would later work again with each of those actors across multiple projects over the course of her career.
O’Hara’s early film credits included Nothing Personal, Double Negative, After Hours, and Beetlejuice.
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She achieved widespread recognition for her role as Kate McCallister, the mother of the McCallister family, in the 1990 holiday classic Home Alone and its 1992 sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Macauley Culkin left a moving tribute to Toronto-born Catherine O’Hara, who died today at the age of 71.
(via Instagram). pic.twitter.com/8ZtBs5Zedn— Sports Niagara-AG (@SportsNiagara) January 31, 2026
The role became one of her most recognizable performances and remains closely associated with her film legacy.
Following the success of the Home Alone films, O’Hara continued to appear in a wide range of movies. She frequently collaborated with director Christopher Guest, appearing in Best in Show and For Your Consideration.
Her later film work included Frankenweenie, The Addams Family, released in 2019, Elemental, Argylle, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
In television, O’Hara built an extensive resume with appearances on series including Trying Times, Committed, Six Feet Under, Glenn Martin DDS, What Lives Inside, and Skylanders Academy.
She later gained another signature role as Moira Rose on the sitcom Schitt’s Creek. Her performance on the series earned her both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe.
The show starred Eugene Levy and was co-created by Levy and his son, Dan Levy, who also appeared as a co-star.
Eugene Levy has paid tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator Catherine O’Hara: “Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today.” pic.twitter.com/ZFqeLssDJG
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) January 31, 2026
Dan Levy pays tribute to Schitt’s Creek co-star Catherine O’Hara.
“What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years.
“Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever… pic.twitter.com/RaWNE0dBEr
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) January 31, 2026
O’Hara’s most recent acting credit was her role as Patty Leigh on Apple TV’s The Studio.
A quick scoot through the career of the wonderful CATHERINE O’HARA — who’s very sadly left s at the age of 71.
What a career, what a talent, and by every account I’ve ever come across what a total professional & a lovely lovely human being. pic.twitter.com/vpwgKTPeu4
— Michael Warburton (@TheMonologist) January 30, 2026
According to Page Six, O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, whom she married in 1992, and their two sons, Matthew, 31, and Luke, 29.
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