Remembering Catherine O’Hara: A Brilliant Career and Lasting Legacy

Catherine Anne O’Hara, the beloved Canadian-American actress, comedian, and writer whose career spanned more than five decades, died on January 30, 2026, at the age of 71 following a brief illness, her representatives confirmed. Her passing was met with an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans, colleagues, and collaborators around the world.

Born in Toronto on March 4, 1954, O’Hara was the sixth of seven children in a family of Irish descent. She began her journey in performance in the world of comedy and improvisation, joining the legendary Second City troupe in Toronto as a young performer. Her early work in sketch comedy laid the foundation for a career defined by versatility, sharp wit, and an uncanny ability to bring complex and humorous characters to life.

O’Hara rose to wider recognition through her work on Second City Television (SCTV), the groundbreaking sketch comedy series that ran in Canada and the United States in the late 1970s and early 1980s. On SCTV, she showcased a remarkable range, creating memorable characters and impersonations while also contributing as a writer — work that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award.

Her transition from sketch comedy to film and television was seamless. In 1988, she gained international fame with her role as the eccentric Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, a performance that introduced her to a generation of moviegoers. Two years later, she captured hearts worldwide as Kate McCallister, the frantic and devoted mother in the blockbuster Home Alone and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, roles that became holiday classics and cemented her place in pop culture.

O’Hara’s collaborations with director Christopher Guest in films such as Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind further demonstrated her comedic range and improvisational mastery, earning her praise from peers and critics alike.

In the 2010s, O’Hara reached perhaps the peak of her popular acclaim with her portrayal of Moira Rose on the critically acclaimed CBC comedy Schitt’s Creek. Her performance as the flamboyant, unpredictable, and utterly unforgettable former soap opera star won her numerous awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, a Golden Globe, and multiple Screen Actors Guild and Canadian Screen Awards. The role made her an international icon and introduced her brilliance to new audiences.

Beyond comedy, O’Hara also delivered dramatic and nuanced performances, with roles in television and streaming series such as The Last of Us and The Studio, the latter earning her Emmy nominations late in her career. She lent her voice to beloved animated films, including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie, and more, showcasing her talent across genres and formats.

Off-screen, O’Hara was known for her warmth, humility, and sharp intelligence. She met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of Beetlejuice, and the couple later married and raised two sons together. O’Hara’s influence extended beyond her roles; she inspired countless performers and entertained millions with her fearless creativity.

As tributes continue to pour in from around the world, Catherine O’Hara’s legacy remains profound: a body of work that brought laughter, depth, and humanity to screens large and small, and a career that reshaped the landscape of comedy and performance for generations.