Home Alone comedy icon Catherine O’Hara dies at 71

The global entertainment industry is in mourning following the death of celebrated Canadian actress and comedian Catherine O’Hara, best known for her unforgettable roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and the Emmy-winning television series Schitt’s Creek.

O’Hara died at the age of 71, marking the end of a career that spanned more than five decades and shaped generations of comedy lovers across the world.

According to a statement from her agent to the BBC, the actress passed away on Friday at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness. Her death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, co-stars, political leaders, and fans who regarded her as one of the most distinctive comedic voices of her time.

From Toronto Beginnings To International Stardom

Born in Toronto, Catherine O’Hara’s journey into entertainment began humbly in the 1970s when she worked as a waitress at the city’s famous Second City theatre, a hub known for producing some of North America’s greatest comedic talent.

It was there that she auditioned and eventually joined the legendary improvisation troupe, sharpening the skills that would define her career.

Her rise continued with her breakthrough on Second City Television (SCTV), one of Canada’s most successful sketch comedy programmes. Alongside comedy giants such as Eugene Levy and the late John Candy, O’Hara became a standout performer, earning acclaim for her sharp wit and fearless character work.

Iconic Film Roles That Defined Comedy Classics

O’Hara made her mark in Hollywood with memorable cinematic performances that cemented her legacy.

In 1988, she starred in Tim Burton’s cult supernatural satire Beetlejuice, portraying the eccentric Delia Deetz.

One of her most iconic moments came during the famous dinner scene featuring the spirited performance of Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), a sequence that remains etched in pop culture history.

Two years later, she became a household name worldwide as Kate McCallister, the frantic mother in the holiday blockbuster Home Alone.

Her anguished scream of “Kevin!” upon realising her son had been left behind became one of the most recognisable moments in film comedy history, contributing to the movie’s status as one of the most successful family comedies ever made.

Emotional Tributes Pour In

O’Hara’s death prompted heartfelt tributes, including from her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin, now 45, who shared emotional words and photos of their time together.

“Mama. I thought we had time… I wanted more,” Culkin wrote, expressing regret and love for the actress who played his on-screen mother.

Film director and collaborator Christopher Guest, who worked with her on several acclaimed mockumentaries, described her as one of the “comic giants of our age,” saying he was devastated by the loss.

Actor and filmmaker Seth Rogen, who worked with O’Hara recently, called her “hysterical, kind, intuitive, and generous,” adding that her presence pushed others to be better.

Director Judd Apatow also joined the tributes, calling her “riotously funny for fifty years” and “a really special person.”

A Late Career Renaissance with Schitt’s Creek

While O’Hara was already a legendary performer, her career experienced a major resurgence during the Covid-era lockdowns thanks to the runaway success of the Canadian comedy series Schitt’s Creek.

Playing the flamboyant and unpredictable Moira Rose, O’Hara introduced audiences to one of television’s most beloved comedic characters. Her wildly shifting accent, extravagant wardrobe, and unforgettable one-liners made her the standout star of the series.

Her performance earned her the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and she used her acceptance speech to celebrate the chance to play “a woman of a certain age — my age — who gets to fully be her ridiculous self.”

Dan Levy, who co-created the series and played her son, described her as extended family long before she joined the cast, saying it was difficult to imagine a world without her.

Continued Work Until Her Final Days

Even in the last years of her life, O’Hara remained active in major productions. She appeared in HBO’s acclaimed drama The Last of Us, playing a therapist, and most recently starred in Seth Rogen’s Emmy-winning comedy The Studio, portraying Patty Leigh, a studio executive navigating reinvention.

Her performance in The Studio earned her nominations at this year’s Golden Globes and the upcoming Actor Awards scheduled for March.