Catherine O’Hara, the actress whose singular comedic voice helped define modern screen comedy, has died at age 71.
Her agency confirmed she passed away Friday at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness.
O’Hara rose from Canada’s Second City scene to become one of film and television’s most distinctive performers, creating indelible characters across decades. She brought chaotic elegance to Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice (and later returned for its sequel), and turned a single anguished shout of “Kevin!” into pop culture history as the frantic mother in Home Alone.
Her later career reached new heights with her portrayal of Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, a performance that earned her an Emmy and a Golden Globe and cemented her status as a comedic icon.
Tributes poured in from collaborators and admirers. Her on-screen son Macaulay Culkin shared an emotional farewell, while Home Alone director Chris Columbus praised the emotional weight she carried in the film. Longtime creative partner Eugene Levy and co-creator Dan Levy previously credited her with helping shape the heart of Schitt’s Creek. She also received acclaim for recent work, including a role in The Last of Us.
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their sons, Matthew and Luke. A private celebration of life will be held by the family.
