Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated actress renowned for her roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and Schitt’s Creek, has passed away at the age of 71. She died at her Los Angeles residence following a brief illness. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/catherine-ohara-dies-schitts-creek-home-alone-beetlejuice/?utm_source=openai))
Born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Canada, O’Hara began her illustrious career with the Second City comedy troupe. She gained prominence on the sketch comedy show SCTV, where she showcased her comedic talents alongside future legends like John Candy and Eugene Levy. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_O%27Hara?utm_source=openai))
O’Hara’s filmography is extensive and diverse. She portrayed Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice and its 2024 sequel, and played the unforgettable Kate McCallister, the mother in the Home Alone series. Her collaboration with director Christopher Guest in mockumentaries such as Best in Show further highlighted her versatility. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/9fdc89411b4961c1d599f836503a6203?utm_source=openai))
In television, O’Hara’s portrayal of Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek earned her critical acclaim, including a Primetime Emmy Award in 2020 and a Golden Globe in 2021. Her recent roles in Apple TV’s The Studio and HBO’s The Last of Us garnered her dual Emmy nominations in 2025. ([time.com](https://time.com/7362820/catherine-ohara-obituary/?utm_source=openai))
Tributes have poured in from colleagues and fans alike. Macaulay Culkin, her Home Alone co-star, expressed his sorrow, stating, Mama. I thought we had time. Michael Keaton, her co-star in Beetlejuice, reminisced about their long-standing friendship, saying, She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis, and my real-life, true friend. ([latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-01-30/catherine-ohara-dies-macaulay-culkin-home-alone-mom-tribute?utm_source=openai))
O’Hara is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, whom she met on the set of Beetlejuice, and their two sons. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_O%27Hara?utm_source=openai))
Her passing marks the end of a remarkable career that spanned over five decades, leaving an indelible mark on the world of comedy and entertainment.
