Tributes pour in following the death of Catherine O’Hara
Catherine O’Hara, the legendary Hollywood actor known for her roles in Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, has passed away at the age of 71. The news was confirmed on Friday.
O’Hara was best known for her roles in beloved television and film favourites, including Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, Beetlejuice, After Hours, and Heartburn. Her career began in Toronto, where she crossed paths with Eugene Levy, who would become a longtime friend and collaborator.
After appearing in the Canadian sitcom SCTV, O’Hara went on to star in several breakthrough roles, including Beetlejuice with Michael Keaton. She rose to iconic status after Kate McCallister in Home Alone, the mother of Kevin McCallister, who gets left behind while their extended family go on a Christmas vacation.
O’Hara also starred in the HBO sitcom Schitt’s Creek with Eugene and Dan Levy, a series about a couple who lose all their money and have to settle down in the town of Schitt’s Creek. O’Hara’s performance on the show earned her an Emmy in 2020 for ‘Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series’.
More recently, O’Hara appeared alongside Seth Rogen in The Studio, which earned her an Emmy nomination, of which she already had two wins. She was also nominated for an Emmy for her role in HBO’s The Last of Us.
The actor passed away “following a brief illness” at her home in Los Angeles, according to a statement from her agency, CAA. O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and her two sons, Matthew and Luke.
Following her death, tributes poured in from across the acting community, paying homage to O’Hara’s timeless legacy and lifetime achievements. The tributes are led by her fellow The Last of Us actor Pedro Pascal, who described O’Hara as a “genius to be near” and who leaves “less light in my world”.
Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin also took to social media to share a heartfelt goodbye. “Mama. I thought we had time,” the actor wrote. “I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”
Comedian Tom Green also said that O’Hara’s characters “brought so much joy and laughter to the world”. He wrote, “It’s with a heavy heart that I share this today. Rest in peace, Catherine O’Hara — one of the greatest Canadian comedy icons of all time.”
Saturday Night Live‘s Kevin Nealon wrote on X: “Catherine O’Hara changed how so many of us understand comedy and humanity. From the chaos and heart of Home Alone to the unforgettable precision of Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, she created characters we’ll rewatch again and again.“
Director Ron Howard called the news “shattering” and remembered O’Hara as “a wonderful person, artist, and collaborator”. Actor Rita Wilson called O’Hara “authentic and truthful in all she did”, while Josh Gad said that he “truly cannot process how to say goodbye to someone so full of life who seemed to just be hitting her prime”.
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