The household of Catherine O’Hara pronounces a personal celebration of life following the actress’s loss of life at age 71. O’Hara, celebrated for her iconic roles in Dwelling Alone and Schitt’s Creek, handed away on Friday in Los Angeles after a brief sickness.
An obituary confirms that O’Hara’s household, together with her husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke, will collect for an intimate memorial. The discover states: ‘A non-public celebration of life shall be held by the household.’
Medical Emergency Precedes Tragic Passing
Emergency companies responded to O’Hara’s Brentwood house round 5 a.m. after she skilled respiratory difficulties. First responders transported the 70-year-old actress to a close-by hospital, the place she arrived in severe situation, in keeping with the Los Angeles Hearth Division.
A division spokesperson famous: ‘At 4:48 a.m., crews responded to a medical support request on the tackle and transported an roughly 70-year-old feminine in severe situation.’
Officers haven’t disclosed the precise explanation for loss of life. O’Hara leaves behind her husband of greater than 30 years, Bo Welch, together with sons Matthew, 32, and Luke, 29.
Stars Pay Emotional Tributes
Information of O’Hara’s passing prompted heartfelt responses from colleagues. Macaulay Culkin, her Dwelling Alone co-star, shared a poignant Instagram put up that includes a break up picture from the movie and their 2023 reunion at his Hollywood Stroll of Fame ceremony. He wrote: ‘Mama. I believed we had time. I wished extra. I wished to take a seat in a chair subsequent to you. I heard you. However I had a lot extra to say. I really like you. I am going to so long.’
Culkin, who portrayed O’Hara’s son within the first two Dwelling Alone films, had just lately offered on the 2026 Golden Globes, the place O’Hara was nominated for Finest Supporting Actress in a Tv Sequence for The Studio. She was absent from the occasion held on January 11.
Pedro Pascal, who shared scenes with O’Hara in season two of HBO’s The Final of Us, posted on Instagram: ‘Oh, genius to be close to you. Eternally grateful. There may be much less mild in my world, this fortunate world that had you, will hold you, at all times. At all times,’ adopted by a coronary heart emoji.
Justin Theroux, her co-star in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, shared a photograph of her on-set chair and wrote: ‘Oh Catherine. You’ll be so so missed.’
Ron Howard, who collaborated with O’Hara on the 1994 movie The Paper, described the information as ‘shattering.’ He acknowledged: ‘What an exquisite individual, artist and collaborator. I used to be fortunate sufficient to direct, produce and act in tasks along with her, and he or she solely grew extra sensible annually. My coronary heart goes out to Bo and household.’
Illustrious Profession Spanning Many years
A Toronto native, O’Hara started her profession as a part of the acclaimed Second Metropolis Tv (SCTV) forged within the Seventies, alongside comedy legends like John Sweet, Eugene Levy, and Rick Moranis. Her partnership with Levy endured via tasks such because the 1996 mockumentary Ready for Guffman, 2000’s Finest in Present, 2003’s A Mighty Wind, and 2006’s For Your Consideration.
Simply weeks earlier than her loss of life, O’Hara obtained the Norman Jewison Profession Achievement Award on the 2025 Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant. In the course of the ceremony, Levy offered the honour, prompting an emotional response from O’Hara. She stated: ‘Eugene, that is an excessive amount of. Thanks, darling.’ In her acceptance speech, she added: ‘Darling Eugene. After I consider my happiest days on this journey in present enterprise, I notice most of them have been with you.’
O’Hara gained widespread recognition as Kevin’s mom within the Dwelling Alone movies and delivered a memorable efficiency because the quirky Moira Rose in all 80 episodes of Schitt’s Creek. Her position within the collection earned her an Emmy for Excellent Lead Actress in a Comedy Sequence in 2020.
Different standout roles embody her work in Tim Burton’s 1988 movie Beetlejuice and Christopher Visitor’s ensemble mockumentaries. O’Hara’s accolades embody two Emmy wins—one in 1982 for SCTV and one other in 2020 for Schitt’s Creek—plus eight further nominations. In 2017, she obtained the Order of Canada. In 2025, she secured uncommon twin nominations for The Final of Us and The Studio.
