Los Angeles, Jan 31: Acclaimed actor and comedian Catherine O’Hara, celebrated for transforming emotional mayhem into unforgettable performances, died at the age of 71. Her manager confirmed the news to Variety, while her agency, CAA, said she passed away at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness.
Known for bringing humanity to exaggerated characters, O’Hara became a household name as the frantic yet devoted mother in Home Alone, a role she reprised in the sequel and later described as “a perfect movie.” Her bond with co-star Macaulay Culkin endured long after filming, culminating in an emotional moment when she honoured him at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2023. Following her death, Culkin shared a tribute calling her “Mama,” writing that he believed they still had more time.
O’Hara’s journey began in Canada during the 1970s as a founding force of Second City Television (SCTV), the sketch show that revolutionised television comedy. Alongside longtime collaborator Eugene Levy, she created characters that balanced absurdity with emotional truth, earning critical acclaim and her first Emmy Award.
Her film career gained momentum in the 1980s with roles in After Hours and Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, where her portrayal of Delia Deetz became iconic. She returned to the role decades later in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). It was during the original production that she met production designer Bo Welch, whom she married in 1992. The couple raised two sons, Matthew and Luke, away from the spotlight.
A defining chapter of her career unfolded through collaborations with filmmaker Christopher Guest, including Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. Her ability to play characters blissfully unaware of their own flaws became her signature.
O’Hara also left a mark through voice work in animated films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie, Monster House, and The Wild Robot, expanding her influence across generations.
Her cultural resurgence came with Schitt’s Creek, where her portrayal of Moira Rose an eccentric former soap star clinging to glamour and language earned her a second Emmy Award and global acclaim. The role introduced her to a younger audience and cemented her status as a late career icon.
In recent years, she continued to earn praise for performances in The Last of Us and Apple TV+’s The Studio, garnering Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Co-stars and collaborators, including Pedro Pascal, described her as irreplaceable, noting that the industry felt diminished without her.
O’Hara often said she was drawn to characters unaware of the impact they had on others a philosophy that defined her work. She portrayed flawed, dramatic, and deeply human figures, allowing audiences to see themselves in exaggerated reflections.
She is survived by her husband, their two sons, and her siblings. With a career spanning five decades, Catherine O’Hara leaves behind a body of work that reshaped comedy and brought warmth, vulnerability, and laughter to millions.
Hollywood has lost a singular voice. Audiences have lost someone who made chaos feel comforting and comedy feel honest.