Authorities have issued an update following the sudden death of Catherine O’Hara at age 71.
The Canadian-American actress, comedian, and screenwriter was best known for her roles in the movies Home Alone and Beetlejuice, as well as the beloved TV series Schitt’s Creek.
Her distinctive voice also led to voice acting roles, including playing Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
O’Hara died at her Los Angeles home on Friday (January 30), as confirmed to the Metro.
As authorities shed further light on the Hollywood legend’s passing, her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin has led the emotional celebrity tributes.
Tributes pour in
The late star famously played the mom of Culkin in Home Alone and its sequel, Lost in New York.
Culkin took to social media and shared two photos – one of the pair in the iconic holiday movie, and a more recent image of the two reuniting on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The actor wrote: “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.”
He concluded the post: “I’ll see you later.”
Seth Rogen, who worked with O’Hara in his award-winning Apple TV series The Studio, posted: “Really don’t know what to say…
“I told O’Hara when I first met her I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen.
“Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies. Getting to work with her was a true honour.
“She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous… she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it.
“This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.”
Pedro Pascal, who starred alongside O’Hara in HBO’s The Last of Us, said: “There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you.”
Rise to fame
O’Hara was born in Toronto, Canada, and was one of seven children.
Her first experience in acting was playing the Virgin Mary in a Nativity play.
After she left high school, O’Hara began working as a waitress at the Second City Theater, which is where she met stars such as Dan Aykroyd and Joe Flaherty.
The actress joined the company in 1974, but later admitted that whenever she was on stage, she felt anxious.
She confessed to The New Yorker in 2019: “My crutch was, in improvs, when in doubt, play insane. Because you didn’t have to excuse anything that came out of your mouth. It didn’t have to make sense.”
Eventually, O’Hara would land a role on the 80s TV sketch show Second City Television. She also made her film debut in 1980, starring in Double Negative alongside John Candy.
But it wouldn’t be until 1988 that the actress would get her big break, playing the part of stepmom to Winona Ryder’s Lydia in the commercially successful movie Beetlejuice.
Just two years later, she was cast as Kevin’s mom in Home Alone.
Catherine O’Hara’s new generation of fans
In her sixties, O’Hara experienced a career renaissance following the success of the sitcom Schitt’s Creek, which received critical acclaim during its run.
The comedy, which has since developed a cult following, follows a married couple who suddenly become bankrupt and find themselves in an unpleasant-looking town named Schitt’s Creek.
In more recent years, she took on a serious role in the post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us, for which she was nominated for an Emmy.
The actress also received both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her part as Patty Leigh in The Studio.
In a 2025 interview with Variety regarding The Studio, O’Hara reflected on how much Hollywood has changed throughout her career.
“It must be a much more nervous business now than in the past,” she said. “The internet and streaming must have opened up a world of good and horrific possibilities for people.”
And while The Studio criticizes Hollywood’s executive culture, O’Hara added: “Most people are trying to do and want to do good work. And most people want to be entertained.”
Final public appearance
The legendary actress made her last public appearance on the red carpet for the Primetime Emmy Party on September 14, 2025, in West Hollywood, California, where she was joined by her husband, Bo Welch.
She wore a black gown with peplum detail, adorned with crystals around the neckline, and appeared in good spirits.
Authorities issue update
O’Hara was reportedly rushed to the hospital after suffering a medical emergency at her home on January 30.
According to dispatch audio obtained by the Daily Mail, the 71-year-old was having ‘difficulty breathing’ before being taken to the hospital, where she was listed in serious condition.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said responders arrived at the star’s home at approximately 5 a.m.
O’Hara was declared dead within hours. At the time of writing, her cause of death has yet to be disclosed.
A spokesperson told the 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.”
Her rep has since issued a cause of death update.
O’Hara is survived by her husband and sons Matthew and Luke. The family plans to hold a private celebration of her life in due course.
