Catherine O’Hara, an actress best known for her roles in Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, and Beetlejuice, passed away at the age of 71 on January 30, 2026, due to illness. Throughout her career, she won two Emmy Awards, and her comedic talent and lasting legacy will long be remembered.
Born March 4, 1954, O’Hara grew up in Toronto, Canada, surrounded by her large family. She became a member of the Second City Theatre company in 1974 after working as an understudy. When their comedy television show SCTV took off, O’Hara became part of the cast. She was known for her creative characters and her celebrity impressions. O’Hara briefly worked for Saturday Night Live and also appeared in a variety of Canadian comedy movies and television shows. When her job with SCTV ended, she became more widely known, appearing as secondary characters in films such as After Hours (1985) and Heartburn (1986). She then took on the role of Delia in Beetlejuice (1988), where she met her husband, Bo Welch. She also starred as the mother in Home Alone (1990) and its sequel (1992). O’Hara continued to act in TV comedies and mockumentaries, even being nominated for an Academy Award for a song she sang in A Mighty Wind (2003). From 2015 to 2020, she appeared as a main character in the television series, Schitt’s Creek, a show about a wealthy family that lost all of their money. Her most recent roles were in The Last of Us (2025) and The Studio (2025).
The sudden death of this beloved actress has brought many reactions from the people with whom she had worked. Schitt’s Creek co-stars Dan Levy, Eugene Levy, Emily Hampshire, and Anne Francis all commented on her liveliness and talent. Macaulay Culkin, known for his role as Kevin in Home Alone, also posted a tribute to O’Hara on Instagram, expressing his grief in the caption. Additionally, Beetlejuice co-star Michael Keaton honored O’Hara, describing her as a true friend. Many of these actors also expressed their condolences to her family as well.
Such a gifted actress is truly inspirational, and the loss of her has shocked many. Her work brought laughter to many fans, and she has played an important role in pop culture over the years. Even though she has passed away, O’Hara’s career will continue to bring joy and lessons to today’s generation, including students at Concord Academy.