Catherine O'Hara, Beloved 'Schitt's Creek' and 'Home Alone' Star, Passes Away at 71

The comedy legend known for her unforgettable roles has died unexpectedly, and while the world finds out the news, details remain painfully scarce.

Catherine O'Hara, the beloved Canadian actress best known for her iconic performances in "Schitt's Creek" and "Home Alone," has died at the age of 71. Her death was confirmed on January 30, 2026, but the news remains a heartbreaking mystery.

A Shock Without Answers

Two sources spoke directly to TMZ, which was the first to break the tragic story. Unfortunately, the cause of death has not been released.

O'Hara's manager also spoke to People to confirm the news but offered no further details. Finally, Variety revealed that the actress passed in her home earlier this Friday after a short illness.

Born in Toronto in 1954, O'Hara was the second youngest of seven siblings, raised by two working parents. It was on the set of “Beetlejuice” that she met her husband, Bo Welch. The pair married in 1992 and later welcomed two sons, Matthew and Luke Welch.

Her Incomparable Comedy Legacy

Her first role was as the Virgin Mary in a school play, and after high school, she took a job waitressing at the famed Second City Theater, a stepping stone that would launch one of the most celebrated careers in comedic history.

During her time there, she watched future stars like Dan Aykroyd, Joe Flaherty, and Gilda Radner take the stage. But O'Hara's own road to success didn't begin with applause. She was rejected after her first audition and received harsh feedback from Flaherty himself.

Still, she refused to give up.

In 1974, she officially joined the company. It was there that she met Eugene Levy, who would go on to become one of her closest friends and collaborators. But her early days were far from glamorous. She wasn't a natural, and for years she battled a deep fear of the stage.

"My crutch was, in improvs, when in doubt, play insane. Because you didn't have to excuse anything that came out of your mouth. It didn't have to make sense," she told The New Yorker in 2019.

She kept pushing forward. Two years later, the theater launched a sketch show called "Second City Television" or "SCTV." By the 1980s, it was airing on NBC, with O'Hara quickly becoming one of its standout stars.

She could mimic anyone from Meryl Streep to Brooke Shields with eerie precision, but what fans loved most were her original characters.

Her brilliance was clear, but the paycheck wasn't always steady. The show's producer was only able to secure short-term deals with networks, forcing the cast into long breaks between seasons.

During one of those breaks in 1981, O'Hara was invited to join "Saturday Night Live." She accepted right away. But before she could appear on air, "SCTV" was renewed, and she chose loyalty over the spotlight. She returned to the show, and her friend Robin Duke took the open "SNL" spot.

O'Hara never looked back. Instead, she joined the "SCTV" writing staff, eventually earning five Emmy nominations and one win.

But when "SCTV" ended in 1984, something had shifted. Her passion for performing had dimmed. Turning down "SNL" had also left her with a reputation for being unwilling to work, a label that was never true. She wasn't avoiding the industry. She was just selective.

Her first film role came in "Double Negative" alongside Levy and other SCTV cast members. She later appeared in Martin Scorsese's "After Hours" and then in "Heartburn." She was also in "A Mighty Wind" and many other incredible roles over the years.

But while millions remember her as Kevin McCallister's frantic and lovable mother in "Home Alone" and its sequel, an entirely new generation came to adore her as Moira Rose in the award-winning sitcom "Schitt's Creek" with her friend, Levy, again.

She earned a second Emmy for it and went on to appear in Apple's "The Studio" and HBO's "The Last of Us." In 2025, she starred in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" alongside Michael Keaton once again.

Few actresses could be as expressive and brilliant as her. She will always be remembered. We offer our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones.