Catherine O’Hara Dies at 71: Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek Star Passes After Brief Illness

Actress Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71 after a brief illness. Her manager confirmed the news on Friday, 30 January 2026. O’Hara was one of the most recognizable figures in North American comedy, with a career spanning over five decades across film, television, and animation. She gained international fame for her roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, and the television series Schitt’s Creek. Details regarding the exact place of death and medical cause have not been disclosed. Her passing affects both the Canadian and U.S. film and television industries, as well as an international audience, reports The WP Times via Variety.

Confirmation of Death and Industry Reactions

The news of Catherine O’Hara’s death was confirmed by her representative and published by the industry magazine Variety on the evening of 30 January 2026. The statement indicated that the actress died following a short illness, without providing further medical details.

Several U.S. and Canadian television networks announced changes to their programming to include reruns of O’Hara’s films and series. Canadian media highlighted her as one of the country’s most influential entertainers.

Early Career and SCTV

Catherine Anne O’Hara was born on 4 March 1954 in Toronto, Canada. She began her professional career in the early 1970s within the Canadian comedy scene. A pivotal moment came with her participation in the sketch show Second City Television (SCTV), which aired from 1976.

SCTV became one of the most influential comedy platforms in North America and launched the careers of numerous actors and writers. O’Hara was not only a performer but also helped develop characters and contributed to improvisational sketches. Her style combined elements of the grotesque with precise observation of character behavior.

O’Hara later reflected on her SCTV experience:

“SCTV taught me to listen to my partners. Without that, improvisation simply doesn’t work.”

Transition to Film and Early Roles

In the early 1980s, O’Hara began working in film. One of her first major roles was in Nothing Personal, alongside Donald Sutherland. In 1985, she appeared in Martin Scorsese’s black comedy After Hours, which received international attention and established her as a versatile performer.

These projects allowed her to showcase a range combining both comedic and dramatic elements.

Beetlejuice and Global Fame with Home Alone

International recognition came with Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice in 1988, where she played Delia Deetz. The film became a commercial success and later achieved cult status. In 2024, O’Hara reprised this role in the sequel.

In 1990, she played Kate McCallister in Home Alone, which became one of the highest-grossing family films of the decade. She reprised the role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).

O’Hara reflected on her work in Home Alone:

“It was a rare case where a big studio project was filmed calmly and without chaos. The children were professional, which made things much easier.”

Collaboration with Christopher Guest

From the mid-1990s, O’Hara collaborated extensively with director Christopher Guest. She appeared in Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration.

These films relied heavily on improvisation and ensemble performance. O’Hara received multiple awards and nominations for her roles. Her characters were marked by a combination of humor and psychological nuance.

She described the process as:

“Improvisation is not freedom without rules; it is a very structured form of discipline.”

Television Work and Schitt’s Creek

Alongside her film work, O’Hara maintained an active television presence, appearing in The Larry Sanders Show, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and 30 Rock.

Her most successful television role came with Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020), in which she played Moira Rose, a former soap opera star forced to live in a small town after losing her fortune. The show ran for six seasons and achieved international acclaim. In 2020, O’Hara won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Later Roles and Voice Work

In recent years, O’Hara appeared in A Series of Unfortunate Events and HBO’s The Last of Us, earning an Emmy nomination for the latter. Her most recent major role was in the comedy series The Studio alongside Seth Rogen, earning nominations for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

O’Hara was also active as a voice actress, contributing to numerous animated films:

• Chicken Little
• Over the Hedge
• Monster House
• Frankenweenie
• The Wild Robot

Key Career Milestones

O’Hara’s death concludes the career of an actress who remained active until her later years. For audiences, it means no new productions with her participation will be released, though her work remains widely available through streaming platforms and television archives. In the coming weeks, retrospectives and special programs featuring her work are expected, particularly in the U.S. and Canada.

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