Comedy Icon Catherine O’Hara Dies At Age 71 Confirmed By Representatives
Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara, renowned for her roles in “Schitt’s Creek,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Home Alone,” has died at the age of 71. Her manager confirmed the news to multiple outlets, including People and Variety, on Friday, January 30, 2026. The cause of death has not been disclosed at this time.
The announcement comes amidst a wave of confusion on social media, as a widely circulated report earlier this week had prematurely claimed the actress had passed away. That initial report was debunked as a hoax by several fact-checking organizations and her representatives at the time. However, management has now verified that the actress passed away on Friday, distinguishing this confirmation from the previous false rumors.
O’Hara was a titan of sketch comedy and character acting. Born in Toronto in 1954, she first gained prominence in the 1970s as a cast member of “SCTV” (Second City Television), where she worked alongside future collaborators like Eugene Levy and John Candy. Her film career solidified her status as a household name, particularly with her portrayal of the eccentric Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” (1988) and the forgetful mother Kate McCallister in the blockbuster “Home Alone” movies.
In recent years, O’Hara enjoyed a massive career resurgence and critical acclaim for her role as Moira Rose in the hit sitcom “Schitt’s Creek.” Her performance as the former soap opera star with an unidentifiable accent earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020, sweeping the major comedy categories that year.
O’Hara remained active in the industry leading up to her death, with recent credits including a role in the second season of HBO’s “The Last of Us” and the series “The Studio.” She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons.
extratv.com
theguardian.com
people.com
mediamass.net
weareiowa.com
wikipedia.org
citynews.ca
discoverwalks.com
britannica.com
