Chicago – January 30, 2026
Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy-winning actress renowned for her roles in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, has died at 71. She passed away on Friday, January 30, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness, according to her agency, Creative Artists Agency.
Career Highlights
O’Hara began her career in the 1970s at Toronto’s Second City, joining the cast of SCTV alongside Eugene Levy and Martin Short. She earned a 1982 Emmy for her SCTV writing and a 2020 acting Emmy for portraying the eccentric Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, also winning a Golden Globe and SAG Award. Iconic film roles included Kate McCallister in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2 (1992), plus appearances in Beetlejuice and Christopher Guest mockumentaries like Best in Show.
Personal Life and Legacy
Born March 4, 1954, in Toronto, O’Hara was married to production designer Bo Welch for 33 years and is survived by sons Matthew and Luke. Tributes poured in from peers like Macaulay Culkin, honoring her comedic genius. Her six-decade career influenced generations of performers.
