Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated comedic actress renowned for her iconic roles in films such as *Home Alone* and *Beetlejuice*, and her Emmy-winning performance in *Schitt’s Creek*, has died at the age of 71.
The Canadian actress first gained recognition through Toronto’s Second City improvisation troupe and on SCTV, before establishing herself in the United States with her role in 1988’s *Beetlejuice* and as the matriarch in the holiday classic *Home Alone*.
O’Hara, remembered by colleagues as a “wonderful person, artist and collaborator,” most recently appeared in the Emmy-winning comedy *The Studio* and HBO’s *The Last of Us*.
In a statement to the BBC, O’Hara’s agent confirmed that she passed away on Friday at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
O’Hara achieved remarkable success throughout her career, leaving an indelible mark on cinema with her comedic talents.
In Tim Burton’s 1988 dark comedy *Beetlejuice*, she played Delia Deetz, captivating audiences as she led her possessed dinner guests in a memorable rendition of “Day-O (the Banana Boat Song).”
Two years later, in *Home Alone*, her panicked scream of “Kevin!” upon realizing her eight-year-old son had been left behind during their Christmas vacation became one of the most iconic moments in cinematic comedy.
Macaulay Culkin, her young co-star in *Home Alone*, now 45, paid tribute to his on-screen mother on Friday, sharing images of the two of them from the film and in later years, writing: “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”
Born in Toronto, O’Hara began her career as a waitress at the Toronto Second City theatre in the 1970s, eventually auditioning for a role with the renowned acting troupe.
She further honed her comedic skills as a cast member of the sketch comedy show Second City Television (SCTV), one of Canada’s most successful television programs, alongside talents like Eugene Levy and the late John Candy.
O’Hara has credited her Canadian heritage with shaping her unique sense of humor.
In a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, she noted that growing up in Canada instilled in her a different sense of national identity compared to the United States.
“And that’s a good thing because it does make you look outside of yourself and be aware of the world and not take yourself seriously,” she said.
“And I think Canadians have not only a sense of humour about others but also about themselves.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined Canadians and fans worldwide in mourning O’Hara’s passing.
“Over 5 decades of work, Catherine earned her place in the canon of Canadian comedy — from the iconic Toronto production of Godspell to SCTV to Schitt’s Creek,” he stated. “Canada has lost a legend.”
O’Hara also collaborated with Christopher Guest and co-writer Eugene Levy on several mockumentary films, including *Waiting for Guffman*, *Best in Show*, *A Mighty Wind*, and *For Your Consideration*. Her portrayal of character actress Marilyn Hack in *For Your Consideration* earned her the 2006 National Board of Review Award for supporting actress.
In a statement to Variety, Guest expressed his devastation, stating that “we have lost one of the comic giants of our age.”
O’Hara experienced a career resurgence with the Canadian comedy series *Schitt’s Creek*, which became a major hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series centered on the wealthy Rose family as they abruptly lose their fortune and are forced to relocate to a dilapidated motel in a small town they once bought as a joke.
O’Hara’s character, Moira Rose, was particularly beloved, known for her eccentric accent, extravagant fashion sense, and memorable one-liners, such as “Never assume, Twyla, because when you assume, it makes an ass out of… both of us.”
Upon winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, O’Hara thanked her co-stars Eugene and Dan Levy for giving her the opportunity to play “a woman of a certain age – my age – who gets to fully be her ridiculous self.”
She continued to work until shortly before her death, playing a therapist in HBO’s sci-fi drama *The Last of Us* and an ousted movie executive in Seth Rogen’s *The Studio* just last year.
In *The Studio*, O’Hara portrayed Patty Leigh, a studio executive replaced by Rogen’s character, who pursues more creative roles as a film producer and makes her way to the Golden Globes, a stage O’Hara knew well.
She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 2021 for her role in *Schitt’s Creek* and received a nomination for her role in *The Studio* at this year’s awards.
She is also nominated at the Actor Awards (formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards) in March for her performance as Patty.
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and sons Matthew and Luke, as well as her siblings Michael O’Hara, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Maureen Jolley, Marcus O’Hara, Tom O’Hara, and Patricia Wallice.
With additional reporting by Jessica Murphy in Toronto and entertainment reporter Steven McIntosh.
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