Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy-winning Canadian actor celebrated for her razor-sharp comedic brilliance and unforgettable characters across television and film, has died at the age of 71. Her representatives confirmed that O’Hara passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness. No additional details were disclosed.
Over a career spanning five decades, O’Hara earned a reputation as one of comedy’s most inventive and fearless performers. She was widely admired for her ability to blend absurdity with emotional depth, creating characters that were simultaneously eccentric and deeply human. From sketch comedy to blockbuster films and prestige television, her influence on modern comedy is difficult to overstate.
O’Hara first rose to prominence in the 1970s as a member of Toronto’s famed Second City comedy troupe. There, she formed creative partnerships that would define her career, most notably with Eugene Levy. Together, they became foundational figures on the sketch series Second City Television (SCTV), which aired in Canada and the United States and launched a generation of influential comedians. O’Hara’s work on SCTV earned her an Emmy Award for writing, an early sign of her multifaceted talent.
Although Hollywood initially struggled to place her unconventional style into leading roles, O’Hara became a sought-after supporting performer in distinctive films. She appeared in Martin Scorsese’s cult classic After Hours and delivered a memorable turn as Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, a role she reprised decades later in the 2024 sequel. Her ability to elevate even brief appearances made her a favorite among directors drawn to character-driven storytelling.
Mainstream audiences came to know O’Hara best as Kate McCallister, the frantic yet tender mother in the first two Home Alone films. The holiday comedies became global box office hits and enduring seasonal favorites, introducing her to millions of viewers worldwide and showcasing a warmer, more grounded side of her screen presence.
In the mid-1990s, O’Hara found a creative home in a series of improvisational mockumentaries directed by Christopher Guest. Films such as Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration allowed her to fully unleash her comedic instincts. Her portrayal of Cookie Fleck in Best in Show, opposite Levy, remains one of her most beloved performances—an inspired mix of vulnerability, delusion, and hilarity.
The defining achievement of O’Hara’s later career arrived with Schitt’s Creek, the small Canadian series that grew into a global phenomenon. Created by Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy, the show followed a once-wealthy family forced to rebuild their lives in a rural town. O’Hara’s Moira Rose—a former soap opera star clinging fiercely to her identity—became a cultural touchstone. With her theatrical wardrobe, ornate vocabulary, and unmistakable accent, Moira stood as a testament to O’Hara’s creative daring.
For Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, along with a Golden Globe and multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards. The show’s final season dominated awards ceremonies and introduced O’Hara to a new generation of fans, cementing her legacy as a comedy legend.
In her final years, O’Hara continued to explore new territory. She earned Emmy nominations for her work in Apple TV+’s The Studio, where she played a reluctant mentor to a rising executive, and for a dramatic role in HBO’s The Last of Us. In total, she received 10 Emmy nominations over her career, a reflection of her sustained excellence across genres.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and admirers across the entertainment industry. Co-stars and collaborators praised not only her talent, but her generosity, intelligence, and warmth. Many credited her with shaping their own approaches to comedy and performance.
Born and raised in Toronto, O’Hara was the sixth of seven children in an Irish Catholic family. She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, their sons Matthew and Luke, and her siblings. Despite her fame, she remained closely connected to her roots and was widely respected for her professionalism and humility.
Catherine O’Hara leaves behind an extraordinary body of work that continues to resonate with audiences around the world. Her characters—bold, bizarre, heartfelt, and unforgettable—stand as lasting reminders of a performer who never played it safe and always trusted her instincts. In doing so, she reshaped what comedy could be.
