Catherine O\u2019Hara, the award-winning actor known for roles in films and TV, including Home Alone and Schitt\u2019s Creek, has died at the age of 71.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Hara died Friday at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness, her manager told Variety.<\/p>\n
The two-time Emmy winner is perhaps best known for playing Kate McCallister in the first two Home Alone films, before going on to play matriarch Moira Rose on the hit TV series Schitt\u2019s Creek.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Hara most recently appeared on 10 episodes of AppleTV\u2019s The Studio and three episodes of the HBO series The Last of Us. Her work on both shows earned her Emmy nominations \u2014 the ninth and tenth of her career.<\/p>\n
Emotional tributes have poured in from stars mourning the loss, including her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin and The Last of Us co-star Pedro Pascal.<\/p>\n
\u201cMama. I thought we had time,\u201d Culkin began before adding, \u201cBut I had so much more to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pascal, meanwhile, wrote: \u201cThere is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always.\u201d<\/p>\n
Follow below for updates as tributes come in…<\/p>\n
Eugene Levy says ‘words seem inadequate’ to express griefEugene Levy, who starred on Schitt’s Creek as O\u2019Hara\u2019s husband, Johnny Rose told The Daily Mail that \u201cWords seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O’Hara for over fifty years. From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to SCTV, to the movies we did with Chris Guest, to our six glorious years on Schitt’s Creek, I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship. And I will miss her.’<\/p>\n
Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara at the Oscars in 2004 (Getty Images)Lydia Spencer-Elliott31 January 2026 09:24<\/p>\n
Dan Levy says O’Hara was ‘extended family’ long before ‘Schitt’s Creek’Dan Levy, who created Schitt’s Creek with his father Eugene and played David Rose in the show, has said O\u2019Hara was \u201cextended family\u201d long before she played his mother in the much-loved sitcom. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years,\u201d Levy said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHaving spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family. It’s hard to imagine a world without her in it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her.\u201d <\/p>\n
Dan Levy and Catherine O’Hara at the Emmy Awards in 2022 (Getty Images for Backstage Creat)Lydia Spencer-Elliott31 January 2026 09:19<\/p>\n
O’Hara shared how she wanted to die in resurfaced interviewWhile filling in the Proust questionnaire for Vanity Fair in 2013, O\u2019Hara said she hoped to die \u201claughing, surrounded by my old grandchildren who are telling me to \u2018let go, already, Grandma!\u201d <\/p>\n
O\u2019Hara is survived by her sons, Matthew and Luke Welch, who also work in Hollywood as set designers. <\/p>\n
In a 2007 interview with Toronto Star, the Argylle star opened up about her sons’ senses of humour. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re very funny, and we encourage it,\u201d O’Hara said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe older one does Warners cartoon bits, really old-fashioned, cheap-a** funny vaudeville stuff. And the little one does word play.\u201d<\/p>\n
She continued, \u201cI\u2019m proud to say, we all make each other laugh. In my home, growing up. I learned that from my parents. They made each other laugh to the end, God bless \u2018em. How great is that?\u201d <\/p>\n
Catherine O\u2019Hara attending the UK premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice at Cineworld Leicester Square, London, in 2024 (Yui Mok\/PA) (PA Archive)Lydia Spencer-Elliott31 January 2026 08:58<\/p>\n
‘Schitt’s Creek’ co-stars say working with O’Hara was a ‘magical gift’<\/p>\n
Karen Robinson and Catherine O’Hara (Getty Images)Two of O\u2019Hara\u2019s Schitt\u2019s Creek co-stars have recalled their time working with the late star.<\/p>\n
Karen Robinson, who played Ronnie Lee, said in a statement to USA Today: “The unmitigated good fortune of sharing space and work and laughter with the brilliance that was Catherine O’Hara is something that I will treasure forever. <\/p>\n
“I am heartbroken for her family and all circles of her friends and loved ones. Oh Canada – what a loss. Thank you, Catherine, for everything you gave us before you left us. So much and so timeless that a part of you will always stay with us.”<\/p>\n
Jennifer Robertson, Sarah Levy, Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy (AFP via Getty Images)Jennifer Robertson, who played Jocelyn Schitt, added: <\/p>\n
“I am deeply saddened to hear we have lost Catherine. Being in Catherine O’Hara’s orbit was a beautiful, magical gift.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was [an] absolute star who never understood why people made such a fuss about her. Her passing is a loss for everyone who knew and loved her. My deepest condolences to Bo, her sons, and the O’Hara family.”<\/p>\n
Kevin Perry31 January 2026 07:59<\/p>\n
‘The Shield’ star says O’Hara was ‘universally loved and admired’<\/p>\n
(Getty Images)The Shield star Michael Chiklis reacted to news of O\u2019Hara\u2019s death by writing on X: \u201cPrecious few people in this world are universally loved and admired. Catherine O’Hara was not only one of those few… she deserved it. Rest In Eternal Peace\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Perry31 January 2026 07:01<\/p>\n
Christina Ricci calls O’Hara the ‘most wonderful, warmest, kind, hilarious human being’<\/p>\n
(Getty Images)Christina Ricci and O\u2019Hara played daughter and mother in the 2006 fantasy romantic comedy Penelope.<\/p>\n
Ricci wrote on Instagram: \u201cWas so lucky to work with this icon, one of my hero\u2019s, the great Catherine O\u2019Hara. So sad she\u2019s gone. She was the most wonderful, warmest, kind, hilarious human being and the most talented and brilliant actress. What a loss. Rest in peace, Catherine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Perry31 January 2026 06:03<\/p>\n
Mike Myers salutes fellow Canadian comedy icon<\/p>\n
(Getty Images for Vulture)In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Wayne\u2019s World, Austin Powers and Shrek star Mike Myers said: \u201cIt is a very sad day for comedy and for Canada. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe was one of the greatest comedy artists in history, an inspiration for millions and above all a very elegant lady. Sending much love and condolences to her family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Perry31 January 2026 05:01<\/p>\n
Ike Barinholtz pays his respects to his ‘The Studio’ co-starIke Barinholtz worked with O\u2019Hara during her recent Emmy-nominated run on The Studio.<\/p>\n
He wrote on Instagram: \u201cI never in a million years thought I would get to work with Catherine O\u2019Hara let alone become friends with her. So profoundly sad she\u2019s somewhere else now. So incredibly grateful I got to spend the time I did with her. Thank you Catherine I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Perry31 January 2026 04:08<\/p>\n
‘Home Alone’ director says the film wouldn’t have worked without O’Hara<\/p>\n
(AFP via Getty Images)Chris Columbus, who directed Home Alone, has explained that the film would not have worked without O\u2019Hara\u2019s singular performance.<\/p>\n
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, he said: \u201cToday we lost Catherine O\u2019Hara. I\u2019m stunned and heartbroken, along with the rest of the world. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was an obsessive fan of Catherine\u2019s brilliant comedic work on SCTV and was thrilled when she agreed to play Kevin\u2019s mom in Home Alone. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat most people don\u2019t realize is that Catherine carries the weight of 50 percent of that film. The movie simply would not work without her extraordinary performance. <\/p>\n
\u201cCatherine grounds the picture with a profound emotional depth. I will miss her greatly. Yet there is a small sense of comfort, realizing that two of the finest human beings I\u2019ve ever known, Catherine and John Candy, are together again, brilliantly improvising, making each other laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Perry31 January 2026 03:02<\/p>\n
Meryl Streep says O’Hara ‘brought love and light to our world’<\/p>\n
(Getty Images)Meryl Streep and O\u2019Hara worked together in 1988\u2019s Heartburn, the Mike Nichols movie based on Nora Ephron\u2019s semi-autobiographical novel.<\/p>\n
Remembering her late co-star, Streep said in a statement to the Associated Press: \u201cCatherine O\u2019Hara brought love and light to our world, through whipsmart compassion for the collection of eccentrics she portrayed… such a loss for her family and friends, and the audience she graced as friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Perry31 January 2026 02:01<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Catherine O\u2019Hara, the award-winning actor known for roles in films and TV, including Home Alone and Schitt\u2019s Creek, has died at the age of 71. O\u2019Hara died Friday at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness, her manager told Variety. The two-time Emmy winner is perhaps best known for playing Kate McCallister in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5358,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n