The actress' manager confirmed she had died at her home in Los Angeles
By Emma Wilkes 30th January 2026
Catherine O'Hara. Credit: Unique Nicole/Getty
Catherine O’Hara, known for her roles in the likes of Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, has died at the age of 71.
The actress’ manager confirmed to Variety that she had died at her Los Angeles home today (January 30) following a brief illness.
O’Hara’s career in Hollywood spanned five decades, starting with her breakout moment in Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television, for which she won her first Emmy.
The Toronto-born star’s other notable films include After Hours, Beetlejuice and the first two Home Alone films in which she played the mother of protagonist Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin). She also lent her voice to the acclaimed animated films The Nightmare Before Christmas and Chicken Little.
O’Hara often worked with Christopher Guest, appearing in his mockumentary films Best in Show, For Your Consideration, Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind.
She enjoyed a career resurgence as she entered her sixties, particularly with her role as housewife Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek which won her a second Emmy. More recently, she had starred in The Last Of Us and Seth Rogen‘s The Studio, for which she received an Emmy nomination.
O’Hara was named the honorary mayor of Brentwood in 2021. She is survived by her two children, Luke and Matthew Welch.
Her last public appearance was in September at an Emmys party.
Tributes have been pouring in for O’Hara, led by Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin.
This is a breaking news story.
