LOS ANGELES — Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy-winning comedic actress celebrated for her roles on "Schitt’s Creek" and "SCTV," died today at her home in Los Angeles. She was 71.
Her manager confirmed that she died after a short illness. TMZ was the first to report the news.
A Career of Comedy Excellence
O’Hara’s career reached a new peak in 2020 with her portrayal of the eccentric Moira Rose on the television series "Schitt’s Creek." Her performance earned her a "clean sweep" of major television acting awards in a single year. These honors included the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award, and a Critics’ Choice Award.
Her career began at Toronto’s Second City Theatre, where she worked as a waitress before joining the acting troupe in 1974. In 1976, she became well known as a writer and regular cast member on the influential sketch comedy program "Second City Television" (SCTV). Working alongside stars such as John Candy, Martin Short, and Eugene Levy, O’Hara won an Emmy for writing and received five total nominations for the program.
In 1981, she joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" but left to return to SCTV before her first episode aired.
Iconic Film Roles
O’Hara gained international fame playing the mother in the 1990 film "Home Alone" and its 1992 sequel, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."
She was also a star in the "mockumentary" film genre—comedies filmed to look like real documentaries. She often worked with director Christopher Guest and actor Eugene Levy, appearing in four of these films: "Waiting for Guffman," "Best in Show," "A Mighty Wind," and "For Your Consideration."
O’Hara was also well known for her role as Delia Deetz in the 1988 film "Beetlejuice." She recently played the character again in the 2024 sequel, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice." She remained active in her final years, earning two more Emmy nominations for her work on HBO Max and Apple TV programs.
Personal Life
Born in Toronto in 1954, O’Hara was raised as one of seven children. She met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of "Beetlejuice," and the couple married in 1992.
She is survived by Welch, their two sons, Matthew and Luke, and her six siblings. The family plans to hold a private memorial service to celebrate her life.
