Catherine O’Hara was a beloved Canadian-American actress, comedian, and screenwriter whose career spanned more than 50 years. Renowned for her sharp improvisational skills, impeccable timing, and ability to infuse comic characters with genuine warmth and humanity, she became an icon in comedy. O’Hara passed away on January 30, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness. She was 71.

Early Life

Catherine Anne O’Hara was born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The sixth of seven children in an Irish-Canadian family, she grew up in a suburb of Toronto. From a young age, she entertained her family by impersonating people. After attending Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute, she did not pursue formal acting training but began working as a waitress at Second City Toronto in 1973.

Early Career and Breakthrough

In 1974, with no prior professional experience, O’Hara replaced Gilda Radner as an understudy in Second City’s troupe and soon became a full cast member. She joined the legendary sketch comedy series SCTV (Second City Television, 1976–1984), where she created memorable characters like Lola Heatherton and Dusty Towne, and delivered spot-on impressions of stars such as Lucille Ball, Meryl Streep, Brooke Shields, and Katharine Hepburn. Her writing contributions to SCTV earned her an Emmy Award in 1982. By the 1980s, her work made her a star in Canada.

Major Film Roles and Hollywood Success

O’Hara made her film debut in 1980 and gained wider recognition in the U.S. with roles in Martin Scorsese’s After Hours (1985) and Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988), playing the eccentric Delia Deetz. She became a household name as Kate McCallister, the frantic yet loving mother in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).

She also voiced Sally and Shock in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and collaborated frequently with Christopher Guest on acclaimed mockumentaries, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), earning praise and awards for her improvisational brilliance.

Her voice work extended to animated films like Chicken Little (2005), Over the Hedge (2006), Monster House (2006), and Frankenweenie (2012).

Later Career and Resurgence

O’Hara experienced a major career renaissance with her role as Moira Rose—the dramatic, eccentric former soap star—in the CBC/Pop sitcom Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020), created by and co-starring Eugene Levy. Her performance won her a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2020), a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and multiple Canadian Screen Awards. The show brought her a new generation of fans worldwide.

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Legacy and Personal Notes

O’Hara’s honors included induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame, appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (2021). She was celebrated for blending humor with emotional depth, often drawing from her improvisational roots.

She is remembered as one of Canada’s greatest comedic talents, leaving behind an enduring body of work that continues to bring joy. Her passing was met with widespread tributes from colleagues, fans, and co-stars, highlighting her warmth, talent, and impact on comedy.

 Kevin from home alone: “Mama. I thought we had time.” 

Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin has paid tribute to his on-screen mother Catherine O’Hara following the sad news about her death.

Macaulay and Catherine starred as Kevin and Kate McCallister in ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Home Alone 2’, and reunited in 2023 for Macaulay’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.

In a 2024 interview, Macaulay revealed that he still called Catherine ‘mom’ and she called him ‘son’ whenever they saw each other 

It was confirmed today that Catherine had sadly passed away, aged 71. RIP Catherine

Rest in peace, Catherine O’Hara.