Catherine O’Hara, beloved for her work in Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, and Best in Show, has died at 71, according to TMZ. The outlet reported that “two sources with direct knowledge confirmed the news,” adding that her cause of death was not publicly confirmed and that she later “passed away after a brief illness.”
Further details emerged from first responders. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told PEOPLE that crews received a call early Friday for an “approximately 70-year-old” woman at O’Hara’s home. The individual was taken to the hospital in serious condition, with dispatch audio noting breathing difficulties.
O’Hara’s career spanned decades and generations. She became a household name as Kate McCallister in the first two Home Alone films, then won over a new audience as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, appearing in 80 episodes and helping turn the series into a cultural phenomenon. Her film work also included Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind, as well as roles in the Beetlejuice franchise.
Born in Toronto, O’Hara met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, while working on Beetlejuice. They married in 1992 and shared two sons.
Her final public appearance came at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in September 2025. Online reactions were mixed, with comments such as “She is super thin. Is she ok?” and others saying she looked “Beautiful.” An obituary shared by her representative noted that “a private celebration of life will be held by the family.”
