Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death has been confirmed in a statement issued by authorities, after the comedy legend died on January 30.
Fans were devastated to hear of the national icon’s passing late last month at the age of just 71.
Her career spanned over five decades, touching multiple generations in years gone by.
Before entering the world of showbiz, O’Hara first rose to prominence as a vital member of the Second City improv troupe.
But it wasn’t until 1988 that she transitioned to film and secured herself as a household name, captivating audiences as the eccentric Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice and the infamous Kate McCallister in Home Alone.
Her role as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek also became a performance that earned her an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award.
And after having played such a central role on screen throughout many of our lives, it’s no surprise to hear that fans were truly devastated by the shocking news of O’Hara’s passing.
Catherine O’Hara’s sudden death
While O’Hara’s manager was the first to confirm the news without providing immediate details, subsequent reports from the Los Angeles Fire Department revealed a tragic and rapid medical emergency had occurred at her property.
Paramedics arrived at her Brentwood residence at 4:48 a.m. on January 30 following a distress call.
Though emergency teams arrived within minutes, they found the star in a ‘serious condition,’ and she sadly passed away later that day at a nearby hospital.
Fans pay tribute
Fans and co-stars alike have since paid tribute to the legendary actress, including her on-screen son Macaulay Culkin.
“Mama. I thought we had time,” Culkin wrote.
“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.”
Dan Levy, who spent six seasons as her other on-screen son in Schitt’s Creek, described her as ‘family before she ever played my family.’
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.”
Fans in their thousands have since gathered to share their shock on social media.
O’Hara’s final public appearance
The star made her last public appearance in style at the Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, 2025, in West Hollywood, California.
She was joined by her husband, Bo Welch, whom she married in 1992 after meeting on the set of Beetlejuice in 1987.
They have two sons together: Matthew (born 1994) and Luke (born 1997).
Commenting on her appearance, one user wrote: “Aww. She looks ill and frail there,” while another noted: “I think she’s ill here bless her. She doesn’t look well.”
O’Hara’s official cause of death
O’Hara’s death certificate has now been obtained by TMZ.
In her death certificate, it’s also disclosed that she was cremated, and her remains were given to her husband.
Per the document, O’Hara died at a Santa Monica hospital, California, within hours of onset of symptoms.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, O’Hara’s immediate cause of death is listed as pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as the underlying cause, which she had reportedly been living with in the months leading up to her tragic passing.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
According to the National Library of Medicine’s Medline Plus, a pulmonary embolism is caused by a ‘blood clot that breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs.’
They add that a large clot, or having a number of clots, could make a pulmonary embolism life-threatening.
Among the risk factors for developing a pulmonary embolism include recent surgery, cancer, heart and lung diseases, age, and family history.
Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest discomfort, raised heart rate, and unusually low blood pressure.
