Catherine O’Hara, the famous Canadian actress and comic performer who worked in the film and TV industries over the last 50 years, died on January 30, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles, at the age of 71. As announced by her representatives at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), it was due to a brief illness.
Catherine O’Hara’s passing caused a surge of mourning and tributes from fans, peers, and public figures around the world. Online personality Zack Peter was among the respondents who, on January 31, 2026, posted to the social media platform X in her memory and expressed his admiration for her roles.
In a short video posted to his X account, Peter said:
“I just wanted to take a moment an honor, what an incredible and just like what an epic actress she was right?”
He added:
“Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, probably one of my favorite roles of hers, home alone iconic, Beetlejuice iconic, I just watched Beetlejuice Beetlejuice couple of weeks ago, and I mean what an incredible actress.”
As noted in the video, Peter highlighted some of Catherine O’Hara’s most memorable performances, her versatility, and her impact on classic comedy and movie roles. He specifically mentioned her playing roles in some of the classic films, including Home Alone and Beetlejuice.
Co-star Macaulay Culkin and Pedro Pascal also paid their tributes.
Catherine O’Hara’s early life and career beginnings
The death of Catherine O’Hara on January 30, 2026, was announced by her representative after a short illness at her Los Angeles residence.
Early that morning, she fell ill with acute breathing difficulty, which prompted a medical aid call to her, and paramedics arrived, during which she was taken to a hospital in critical condition before she died.
According to PEOPLE, a spokesperson from the Los Angeles Fire Department said responders got a call from the actress’s residence at 4:48 am PT reporting an unidentified female “in serious condition” and experiencing “breathing difficulty.”
No official cause of death has been announced publicly, but initial reports referenced the sudden advancement of her disease.
Catherine O’Hara was born on 4 March 1954, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she was introduced to the world of entertainment in the 1970s with the local comedy troupe Second City Toronto, gaining a background in sketch and improvisational humor.
Her initial efforts earned her a role in SCTV, a comedy show that assisted the careers of a generation of Canadian actors, and predetermined the direction of a wide career in stage, television, and film.
Her best-known roles are the eccentric Moira Rose in the critically acclaimed television comedy series Schitt’s Creek, where she has won Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe.
Her work in the show greatly enhanced her recognition internationally and introduced her to new generations of audiences. She also happened to be very popular as Kate McCallister, the loving but frantic mother in the two movies Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and also her quirky depiction as the character Delia Deetz in the film Beetlejuice.
In addition to these iconic roles, Catherine O’Hara appeared in Christopher Guest’s ensemble mockumentaries and lent her voice to animated features such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Elemental, and The Wild Robot. She also received recent Emmy nominations for performances in HBO’s The Last of Us and Apple TV+’s The Studio.
Catherine O’Hara’s work remains part of widely viewed and critically recognized productions that continue to be watched and discussed.
Edited by Toshali Kritika
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