Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian Catherine O’Hara, widely celebrated for her roles in Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek and Beetlejuice, has died at the age of 71.
Her death was confirmed by a representative from the office of her longtime manager, Marc Gurvitz. No cause of death has been disclosed, and further details surrounding when or where she died were not immediately made public.
O’Hara rose to international fame as a core member of The Second City, the legendary improvisational comedy troupe. Her work there paved the way for her breakthrough on the Canadian sketch comedy series S.C.T.V., a show that shaped modern comedy and launched several major careers.
During her time on S.C.T.V., O’Hara worked alongside comedy icons including John Candy, Rick Moranis and Eugene Levy. Decades later, she reunited with Levy to play his on-screen wife, Moira Rose, in the critically acclaimed sitcom Schitt’s Creek—a role that earned her global recognition and an Emmy Award.
Beyond television, O’Hara became a household name through memorable film performances, notably as Kevin McCallister’s frantic mother in the Home Alone franchise and Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice.
Her most recent appearance was in Apple TV’s series The Studio, marking another chapter in a career that spanned more than five decades across film, television and theatre.
In 2017, Canada honoured her contributions to the arts by appointing her to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian distinctions.
Tributes from fans, colleagues and industry figures are expected to pour in as the entertainment world reflects on the legacy of one of its most distinctive comedic voices.
