Catherine O'Hara died today -- Friday, January 30, 2026 -- at her home in Los Angeles, according to statements from her representatives and agency. The beloved Canadian actor and comedian best known for Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, and Beetlejuice, was 71. Early reports described her passing as occurring "following a brief illness," with no further details on her cause of death immediately released. Her manager’s office and Creative Artists Agency confirmed her death, noting that additional information would be shared when available.
Over a five-decade career, O’Hara became a fixture of contemporary comedy and character acting, first breaking out on Toronto’s Second City stage and the sketch TV series SCTV in the 1970s. She reached global fame as Kate McCallister, the frantic mother in the Home Alone films, and later as the gloriously eccentric Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek. Other notable credits include the hit movie Beetlejuice and its sequel, the comedy film Best in Show, and a string of acclaimed collaborations with Eugene Levy and director Christopher Guest.
O’Hara won an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for Schitt’s Creek, capping the show’s sweep in its final season. She also received multiple Screen Actors Guild honors and a Golden Globe, among numerous career accolades. Industry tributes frequently cited her precise comic timing, inventive character work, and influence on generations of performers.
In recent years, O’Hara continued to work steadily, appearing in projects for Apple TV+ and HBO, including roles in The Studio and The Last of Us, receiving Emmy nominations for her work on both shows. She was last widely photographed at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in September 2025. Fans have been revisiting clips from her recent appearances and earlier interviews, many of them going viral in the hours since news of her death emerged.
News of O’Hara’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues, fans, and fellow Canadians, who are celebrating her as one of the country’s most influential comedic exports. Many tributes highlight her long creative partnership with Eugene Levy, her role in redefining ensemble comedy, and the cultural impact of Moira Rose and Schitt’s Creek worldwide. As details about memorial plans are still forthcoming, her body of work is being widely shared as audiences revisit the performances that made her a singular, irreplaceable presence on screen.
She leaves behind her husband of almost 34 years, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke. ~Alexandra Heilbron
She was a wonderful comedian and actress and a great Canadian. R.I.P. Ms O'Hara.