Catherine O’Hara, the Canadian born comic actor celebrated for roles in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek has died aged 71.
Her death was confirmed on January 30, 2026, and was reported to have followed a brief illness.
O’Hara died in Los Angeles, according to reports with representatives confirming the news. Tributes quickly spread across the entertainment industry with former co stars and fans sharing memories of a performer known for sharp timing, warmth and a gift for turning even the smallest moment into a scene stealer.
Born in Toronto, O’Hara rose through the city’s improv and sketch circuit including The Second City before gaining national attention on SCTV.
This early work helped shape a career that moved easily between television and film often blending broad comedy with an undercurrent of real feeling.
For many audiences, she was first a familiar face in mainstream hits including Beetlejuice and the annual holiday staple Home Alone where she played the frazzled but determined mother searching for her son.
Decades later, she reached a new generation as the flamboyant Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, a performance that helped make the series a global success and cemented her status as one of comedy’s most distinctive screen presences.
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch and their two sons.
