Schitt's Creek and Home Alone star Catherine O'Hara dies aged 71

January 31, 2026

Canadian comedic actress Catherine O'Hara has passed away at age 71 at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness. Rising from Toronto's Second City comedy troupe and SCTV in the 1970s, she became internationally recognized for memorable roles including the possessed stepmother in Beetlejuice and the frantic mother in Home Alone. Her career experienced a resurgence through her Emmy and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Moira Rose in the pandemic-era hit series Schitt's Creek, where she played an eccentric former soap star with characteristic humor and flair.

Who is affected

Catherine O'Hara's family: husband Bo Welch, sons Matthew and Luke, and siblings Michael, Mary Margaret, Maureen Jolley, Marcus, Tom, and Patricia Wallice
Her co-stars and collaborators including Macaulay Culkin, Dan Levy, Eugene Levy, Seth Rogen, and Christopher Guest
Fans of her work across multiple decades
The Canadian entertainment community and Prime Minister Mark Carney
The cast and crew of her recent projects

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article beyond mourning and public tributes being shared by colleagues and fans.

Why it matters

Catherine O'Hara was a comedic icon who shaped entertainment across five decades, from pioneering Canadian sketch comedy on SCTV to creating indelible characters in cult classic films and award-winning television. Her work influenced generations of performers and helped establish Canadian comedy on the international stage. Her late-career success with Schitt's Creek demonstrated her enduring relevance and provided representation for older women in comedy, while her characters became cultural touchstones that resonated across different eras and audiences.

What's next

She is nominated at the Actor Awards (formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards) taking place in March for her role in The Studio.

Read full article from source: BBC