The entertainment industry is in a state of profound mourning following the announcement of Catherine O'Hara's passing. The celebrated actress, best known to millions as Kate McCallister from the iconic Home Alone films, died at her Los Angeles home. She was 71 years old.
A Legendary Career Cut Short
According to an official statement released by her representatives at Creative Artists Agency, O'Hara died "following a brief illness" in late January. The statement confirmed her passing and extended sympathies to her family, which includes her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.
Her remarkable journey in the arts began not on screen, but on stage in her native Canada. In the early 1970s, she was working as a waitress at Toronto's famed Second City Theatre, a hub for improvisational comedy. By 1974, she had secured a place as a cast member, launching a career that would span over half a century and define a genre of character-driven humour.
From Improv to Iconic Roles
O'Hara's early fame was built on razor-sharp character work and impressions on the sketch show SCTV, earning her a writing Emmy in 1982. Her transition to film brought some of her most memorable creations to a global audience. She captivated viewers as the delightfully eccentric Delia Deetz in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice in 1988, a role she revisited in the 2024 sequel.
However, it was her portrayal of the frantic, loving mother Kate McCallister in 1990's Home Alone that cemented her status as a household name. The film's monumental success and its 1992 sequel made her face recognisable to generations of fans.
Her collaboration with director Christopher Guest yielded a series of critically adored mockumentaries, including Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind. For the latter, she and longtime collaborator Eugene Levy performed the Oscar-nominated song "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" at the Academy Awards.
Late-Career Triumphs and Universal Acclaim
In what many consider a career-defining late chapter, O'Hara achieved new heights of fame and critical praise for her role as the gloriously pretentious Moira Rose on the hit series Schitt's Creek from 2015 to 2020. The performance earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy, showcasing her unparalleled talent for blending absurdity with genuine heart.
Remarkably, her creative output remained vital until the very end. She recently garnered award nominations for her work in the 2025 Hollywood satire The Studio and for a poignant guest role in HBO's The Last of Us.
An Outpouring of Grief and Tributes
The news of her death has prompted an immense wave of tributes from across the entertainment world. Co-stars and admirers have shared their grief and memories on social media and in statements.
Pedro Pascal, her colleague on The Last of Us, wrote emotionally, "Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world." Director Ron Howard called the news "shattering," praising her as a "wonderful person, artist and collaborator" who grew "more brilliant with each year."
The Screen Actors Guild also issued a formal statement, honouring her as a "beloved actor and comedian" whose "brilliance, generosity and originality has left an indelible mark on film and television."
Catherine O'Hara's legacy is one of unique comedic genius, profound humanity, and an unwavering dedication to her craft. She is survived by her husband, her children, and a body of work that will continue to inspire laughter and admiration for decades to come.
