Catherine O'Hara dead at 71
Canadian-American actress Catherine O’Hara has died at 71, according to multiple reports.
The cause of death was not clear, two sources told TMZ . O’Hara’s manager confirmed the death to People Magazine.
The actress was born in Toronto in 1954. She got her start while she was waitressing at Second City Toronto. Without formal training, she went on to replace comedian Gilda Radner in 1974 and ended up joining Second City Television, alongside other Canadian icons such Eugene Levy and John Candy. She was awarded with an Emmy for her work writing on the program in 1982, according to Second City .
The career of the comedian, known more recently for her roles in CBC TV’s Schitt’s Creek and Apple TV+ series The Studio, spans decades. She starred in films such as Beetlejuice (1988), Home Alone (1990) and Best in Show (2000).
For Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the iconic character Moira Rose.
“I’ll be forever grateful to Eugene and Daniel for giving me that opportunity to develop the role with them and to collaborate,” says O’Hara,” she told People in 2024. The same year, she even spoke about a Schitt’s Creek reunion, saying that she hoped it would happen.
She was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2021, she received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.
She leaves behind husband Bo Welch and her two sons .
There was an outpouring of messages of admiration for the iconic actress on Friday afternoon.
O’Hara’s Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin wrote a tribute to her on Instagram, with a photo of them on the set of the film and another one of them together decades later.
“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,” he wrote.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he and his wife Anaida are “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Canadian comedic legend Catherine O’Hara,” in a post on X.
“Through decades of unforgettable performances from SCTV to Home Alone to Schitt’s Creek, she brought joy and laughter to generations of Canadians and showed the best of Canadian talent to audiences around the world. Her talent and warmth left a lasting mark on our culture,” he said.
Anaida and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Canadian comedic legend Catherine O’Hara.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 30, 2026
Through decades of unforgettable performances from SCTV to Home Alone to Schitt’s Creek, she brought joy and laughter to generations of Canadians and showed the best of…
Canadian singer Michael Bublé said in a post on X that O’Hara was “one of a kind.”
“She wasn’t just a legendary artist, actor and comedian. She was an ambassador for Canada in the truest sense: brilliant, fearless, deeply original, and so full of humanity. She made the world laugh, but she also made people feel seen,” he wrote.
He added that O’Hara inspired him and “set the bar for what it means to represent your country with excellence and grace and all without ever losing warmth or humility.”
Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it.
— Michael Bublé (@MichaelBuble) January 30, 2026
Catherine O’Hara was one of a kind. A rare light in this world and her passing hits with a weight I can’t fully put into words.
She wasn’t just a legendary artist,
actor and comedian. She was an ambassador for Canada in the truest… pic.twitter.com/06jGk7OyCP
Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said in a post on X that his heart goes out to O’Hara’s family.
“Such a great Canadian example of grit, talent, originality and laughter-filled optimism. All the wonderful things you have done will live on,” he said.
American filmmaker Ron Howard said the news of O’Hara’s death was “shattering,” in a post on X .
“What a wonderful person, artist and collaborator. I was lucky enough to direct, produce and act in projects with her and she was simply growing more brilliant with each year,” he said.
Comedian and actor Kevin Nealon wrote a tribute to O’Hara on X, saying how she “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,” he said.
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.
— Kevin Nealon (@kevin_nealon) January 30, 2026
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