Catherine O’Hara dead at 71: Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek icon dies quietly after final frail public appearance

READ MORE: Macaulay Culkin leads emotional tributes to his ‘Home Alone mom’ Catherine O’Hara

By T. ZELLER – DAILY MAIL REPORTER and MARJORIE HERNANDEZ, US WEST COAST NEWS EDITOR

Catherine O’Hara, the beloved actress known for Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, and Best in Show, has died at the age of 71; (O’Hara pictured at her last public appearance at Emmys in September 2025)

Catherine O’Hara, the much-loved star whose career spanned decades and generations, has died at the age of 71.

The actress — adored for her unforgettable roles in Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek and Best in Show — passed away on Friday at her home in Los Angeles, according to a statement released by her agency, CAA.

The statement confirmed that O’Hara died following a brief illness. No official cause of death has yet been disclosed.

O’Hara passed away at her home in Los Angeles on Friday ‘following a brief illness,’ according to a statement from her agency CAA; (O’Hara as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek)

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told the Daily Mail that emergency crews were dispatched to her home at approximately 4:48am after a request for medical assistance. An “approximately 70-year-old female” was transported to hospital in serious condition.

Daily Mail has contacted representatives for O’Hara for further comment.

The actress is survived by her husband of more than 30 years, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew, 32, and Luke, 29.

The actress became a household name playing Macaulay Culkin’s mom in the first two Home Alone films; (pictured with Culkin in Home Alone )

O’Hara’s death comes just four months after her final public appearance — a moment that now feels haunting in retrospect.

In September, she stepped onto the red carpet at the Emmy Awards, where onlookers noted that the usually vibrant star appeared noticeably frail. At the time, no explanation was offered, and fans assumed the actress was simply slowing down after a long career.

A Los Angeles FireDepartment spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘At 4:48 am we responded to a request for medical aid to that address and transported an approximately 70-year-old female in serious condition’

She was notably absent from the 2026 Golden Globe Awards earlier this month, despite being nominated for Best Supporting Actress on Television for The Studio. Her absence went unexplained.

That same evening, her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin took to the stage to present an award — briefly reflecting on the film that made both of them household names.

Behind the scenes, however, events were unfolding rapidly.

Dispatch audio later obtained by media outlets revealed that O’Hara had been experiencing breathing difficulties at home shortly before emergency services were called.

As news of her death spread, tributes flooded social media — led by Culkin, who shared a deeply emotional message to the woman he once called “Mom” on screen.

O’Hara famously played Macaulay Culkin’s mother in the first two Home Alone films

Posting on Instagram, Culkin shared a split image: one frame from Home Alone, and another taken years later during his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2023, where O’Hara proudly introduced him.

“Mama,” he wrote. “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.”

Other stars soon followed.

Fans also remember her unforgettable turns in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice; (pictured with Geena Davis in 1988)

Pedro Pascal, who worked alongside O’Hara in season two of HBO’s The Last of Us, described her as a rare presence.

“Oh, genius to be near you,” he wrote. “Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world. This lucky world that had you will keep you, always.”

Justin Theroux, who recently co-starred with O’Hara in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, shared a photo of her on-set chair bearing her name. His caption was simple: “Oh Catherine. You will be so, so missed.”

Beetlejuice became one of O’Hara’s biggest hits; (Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, O’Hara, Winona Ryder and Jeffrey Jones in 1988)

Filmmaker Ron Howard, who worked with O’Hara on The Paper in 1994, called the loss “shattering news.”

O’Hara had a resurgence with Schitt’s Creek; (Dan Levy, Annie Murphy, Emily Hampshire, O’Hara and Levy at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards)

“What a wonderful person, artist and collaborator,” he wrote. “She only grew more brilliant with each passing year. My heart goes out to Bo and the family.”

Just one week before her final red-carpet appearance, O’Hara had reunited with longtime collaborator Eugene Levy at the Toronto International Film Festival, where she was honored with the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award.

O’Hara met production designer Bo Welch on the set of Beetlejuice; they married in 1992 and had two sons, Matthew (born 1994) and Luke (born 1997); (pictured with Welch in 1990)

The moment was emotional.

Levy, visibly moved, presented the award — prompting O’Hara to fight back tears during her acceptance speech.

“Eugene, that’s too much,” she said softly. “When I think of my happiest days in this adventure in show business, most of them have been with you.”

Culkin enjoyed a sweet reunion with his Home Alone mom O’Hara as she introduced him at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in 2023

Their partnership stretched back to the 1970s, when both rose to fame on SCTV, alongside comedy legends including John Candy and Rick Moranis.

From there, O’Hara became a defining force in modern comedy — starring in Christopher Guest’s acclaimed mockumentaries Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind, before enjoying a remarkable career resurgence as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek.

Her portrayal of the eccentric matriarch earned her an Emmy Award in 2020, along with worldwide acclaim and a new generation of devoted fans.

Beyond comedy, O’Hara proved her dramatic range in recent years, including her 2025 performance in The Studio and a guest role on HBO’s The Last of Us — earning a rare double nomination that same year.

Born in Toronto, O’Hara was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017, recognizing her immense cultural contribution.

She met her husband Bo Welch on the set of Beetlejuice in the late 1980s. The couple married in 1992 and built a quiet family life away from Hollywood’s glare.

In her final years, O’Hara remained selective but deeply respected — admired not only for her talent, but for her kindness, humility, and sharp wit.

Now, tributes continue to pour in from colleagues, fans, and friends — all echoing the same sentiment.

There was no one quite like Catherine O’Hara.