Catherine O’Hara, Iconic Star of Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, Passes Away
Legendary actress Catherine O’Hara passes away at 71 after brief illness.
Canadian-American comedy legend Catherine O’Hara has passed away at the age of 71 following a brief illness at her home in Los Angeles. The news, confirmed by her agency Creative Artists Agency, has left fans worldwide in mourning. Known for her impeccable comic timing, subtle expressions, and unforgettable characters, O’Hara brought joy and heart to generations through film, television, and sketch comedy.
O’Hara was born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Canada, as the sixth of seven children. She began her career in the iconic sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV) in the late 1970s, performing alongside comedy giants like John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Rick Moranis. Her fearless and eccentric characters on SCTV earned her a Primetime Emmy Award and helped define a unique brand of Canadian humour that influenced comedy for decades.
She became a household name for millions with her role as Kate McCallister, the frantic yet fiercely loving mother in the holiday classics Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Her desperate search for her forgotten son Kevin gave those films their emotional core, turning her into an enduring symbol of 90s childhood for audiences around the world. O’Hara also shone in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice as the eccentric Delia Deetz and in Christopher Guest mockumentaries like Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, and A Mighty Wind.
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Her career enjoyed a spectacular resurgence with the role of Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020). Dressed in outrageous wigs and delivering lines with a gloriously unplaceable accent, Moira became a cultural phenomenon. O’Hara won a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe, and widespread acclaim for portraying a once-wealthy woman rebuilding her life with dignity and humour. The performance introduced her to a new generation and solidified her status as one of television’s greatest comedic talents.
Throughout her career, O’Hara collected numerous honours, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She continued working into recent years with roles in A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Last of Us, and more. Survived by her husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke, O’Hara’s extraordinary talent, warmth, and unforgettable screen presence will continue to entertain and inspire fans forever.
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