Actor and comedian Catherine O’Hara, celebrated for Schitt’s Creek and classic films, dies at 71

Catherine O’Hara, the acclaimed Canadian actress and comedian best known for her work in film and television, has died at the age of 71 following a brief illness, according to a statement from her agent. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles, prompting tributes from colleagues, fans, and public figures across Canada and beyond.

O’Hara rose to prominence through Toronto’s renowned Second City improvisation scene and the influential sketch comedy series SCTV, where she worked alongside comedy legends such as Eugene Levy and John Candy. These early years helped establish her distinctive comedic voice and laid the foundation for a career that successfully crossed from Canadian television into major Hollywood productions.

Her international breakthrough came with memorable roles in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988), where she featured in the iconic musical dinner scene, and in the hugely successful family comedy Home Alone (1990), portraying the frantic yet loving mother of Macaulay Culkin’s character. Her performance in Home Alone became one of the most recognisable in modern holiday cinema.

Later in her career, O’Hara experienced a significant resurgence with the television series Schitt’s Creek. Her portrayal of Moira Rose, marked by eccentric costumes, a fluctuating accent, and sharp one-liners, earned her widespread critical acclaim and an Emmy Award. She described the role as a rare opportunity to play a woman of her own age who could fully embrace absurdity and complexity.

Beyond her on-screen work, O’Hara was admired for her humility, collaboration, and uniquely Canadian sense of humour, which she often credited to her upbringing. She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, their two sons, and several siblings. Her death marks the loss of a defining figure in North American comedy and film.