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Catherine O'Hara, 'Schitt's Creek' & 'Home Alone' Star, Dies at 71

Veteran actress Catherine O'Hara has passed away at the age of 71 at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness. She was best known for her iconic roles as Kate McCallister in the 'Home Alone' films and Moira Rose on the hit series 'Schitt's Creek', for which she won an Emmy in 2020. Her career spanned decades, beginning on the comedy show SCTV and earning her numerous accolades, including a recent Emmy nomination in 2025. She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons.

Key Points: Catherine O'Hara Dies: 'Schitt's Creek' Star Was 71

  • Emmy winner for 'Schitt's Creek'
  • Starred in 'Home Alone' films
  • Career launched on SCTV
  • Recent nomination for 'The Last of Us'
  • Survived by husband and two sons
2 min read

'Schitt's Creek' star Catherine O'Hara passes away at 71

Emmy-winning actress Catherine O'Hara, famed for 'Schitt's Creek' and 'Home Alone', passes away at 71 in Los Angeles after a brief illness.

"O'Hara died on Friday at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness - The Hollywood Reporter"

Los Angeles, January 31

Veteran actress Catherine O'Hara, best known for her work in 'Schitt's Creek', 'Home Alone', and 'Best In Show', has passed away. She was 71.

O'Hara died on Friday at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, her reps at CAA confirmed, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

A native of Toronto, O'Hara was part of the SCTV ensemble that also helped launch the careers of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Rick Moranis and others. She's arguably best known for playing Kevin's (Macaulay Culkin) mother, Kate, in the Home Alone movies and had a career renaissance in the past 10 years with Schitt's Creek--winning an Emmy for her role as a faded soap opera actress opposite old friend Levy--and The Studio, for which she earned an Emmy nomination last year.

She won an Emmy in 2020 for her portrayal of Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek and previously earned an Emmy in 1982 for her work on SCTV Network. Over the course of her career, O'Hara has received eight additional nominations for acting and writing. In 2025, she was a double nominee, earning recognition for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series for HBO's The Last of Us, as well as for her comedic performance in The Studio.

O'Hara was born on March 4, 1954, and grew up in Toronto. She joined the city's Second City company at age 20, first serving as an understudy to Gilda Radner and moving up to the main cast when Radner left to become part of the original Saturday Night Live ensemble, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

More details regarding her demise are awaited. She is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and sons Matthew and Luke.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
What a talent! From SCTV to Schitt's Creek, she had such incredible range. Moira Rose was a masterpiece of comedy. A huge loss for the entertainment world.
A
Aman W
I only discovered her through Schitt's Creek on Netflix. Her comedic timing was just brilliant. It's inspiring to see an actor have such a successful career resurgence later in life. Condolences to her family.
S
Sarah B
71 is too young. She was still doing such great work, with Emmy nominations just last year. A true professional who loved her craft until the end.
V
Vikram M
While her passing is tragic, the article feels a bit rushed? It jumps from her death to her career highlights without much flow. Still, she was a gem. Her role in 'Best in Show' was hilarious.
K
Kavya N
An icon. She made us laugh for decades. It's amazing how her work connected with audiences worldwide, including here in India. May her soul find peace. Om Shanti.

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