Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy-winning actress and comedian whose work spanned film and television for more than five decades, has died at the age of 71. The news was confirmed by her manager and first reported on Friday, January 30, 2026. At this time, details about the cause of her death have not been publicly disclosed.
O’Hara was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1954 and began her entertainment career in improvisational and sketch comedy. She first rose to prominence as a cast member on the influential Canadian sketch show SCTV, where her sharp comedic instincts helped establish her as a standout performer.
She became a familiar face to audiences around the world with a string of memorable roles. In film, she played Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice, the harried mother Kate McCallister in the original Home Alone movies, and delivered standout work in Christopher Guest’s celebrated mockumentaries, including Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. On television, O’Hara won widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, a role that earned her an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and other major awards.
In recent years she continued to work in high-profile projects, including a role in the Apple TV+ series The Studio, for which she earned another Emmy nomination – as well as HBO’s The Last of Us.
Colleagues, fans and fellow performers have taken to social media to pay tribute, remembering O’Hara for her originality, warmth, and enduring comedic brilliance. Her influence on both comedy and film remains profound.
O’Hara is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons. Further details surrounding her death and any planned tributes are expected to be shared in the coming days.
