Veteran Actor Catherine O’Hara Dies at 71

O’Hara was one of the most versatile and cherished performers of her generation — shining in television, film, and comedy across five decades.

Catherine O'Hara arrives on the red carpet of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit: Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Preview:

Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71.
She was celebrated for iconic performances in classics like ‘Home Alone,’ ‘Beetlejuice,’ and a string of beloved Christopher Guest ensemble comedies.
More recently, she was part of the cast for ‘The Studio.’

Catherine O’Hara, a beloved comic actor whose work has spanned different generations, has died at her Los Angeles home the age of 71 following a brief illness. Once best known for her performances in movies such as ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Beetlejuice’, she has enjoyed a more recent career resurgence thanks to hit sitcom ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and Apple TV’s ‘The Studio.’

O’Hara’s life and career garnered her a big, popular fan following, and the death will come as a shocking, huge loss.

Catherine O’Hara: Early Life and Career

Catherine O'Hara in 1990's 'Home Alone'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Born March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Ontario, Catherine Anne O’Hara grew up in a large Irish-Catholic family where humor was central to daily life. After graduating high school she began performing with the famed Second City comedy troupe in Toronto, quickly gaining notice for her improvisational skills and character work.

O’Hara joined the cast and writing staff of ‘Second City Television’ (‘SCTV’) in the late 1970s, where her sharp wit and comic range helped define the show’s irreverent voice and won her early industry acclaim, including a Primetime Emmy Award for writing.

Catherine O’Hara: A Life in Film and Television

(L to R) Annie Murphy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Daniel Levy in 'Schitt's Creek'. Photo: CBC Television.

O’Hara’s film career took off in the 1980s and ’90s with memorable roles in ‘Beetlejuice’ and as Kate McCallister in the holiday classics ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York', roles that endeared her to global audiences.

She became a beloved fixture of the mockumentary genre in Christopher Guest’s films, including ‘Waiting for Guffman’ , ‘Best in Show’, ‘A Mighty Wind’ , and ‘For Your Consideration’, showcasing her extraordinary range and comedic timing.

Her portrayal of former soap star Moira Rose on ‘Schitt’s Creek’ was a career-defining performance — earning her a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild accolades, and cementing her status as one of television’s most inventive comic actresses.

In later years she continued to surprise and delight audiences with projects including the 2024 sequel ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ dramatic turns in ‘The Last of Us' Season 2, and the Apple TV+ series ‘The Studio,’ for which she garnered further critical praise.

Catherine O’Hara: Offscreen

(L to R) Willem Dafoe, Catherine O'Hara, Justin Theroux and Michael Keaton for 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' at CinemaCon 2024. Photo: Warner Bros.

O’Hara was known for her warmth, humility, and generosity off camera, traits shared by friends and collaborators throughout her long career. She married production designer Bo Welch in 1992, and the couple raised two sons together.

Despite her fame, O’Hara often spoke of her roots in live comedy and improv, crediting her early days at Second City with shaping her creative voice and grounding her approach to performance.

Catherine O’Hara: Legacy

(L to R) Seth Rogen and Catherine O’Hara in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Across a career spanning five decades, Catherine O’Hara brought laughter, heart, and unforgettable characters to audiences around the world. Whether playing a bewildered mom, an eccentric TV diva, or a mockumentary ensemble member, she infused each role with intelligence and soul.