Emmy winner and comic legend Catherine O’Hara passes away at 71

Hollywood bid farewell to one of its most distinctive and beloved comic talents as Catherine O’Hara , the Emmy winning actor celebrated for her unforgettable work in Schitt’s Creek and the blockbuster Home Alone films, passed away on Friday at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness. She was 71. The news was confirmed by her agency, Creative Artists Agency.

For nearly five decades, O’Hara built a career defined by originality, warmth and fearless humour. She had a rare ability to turn eccentric, offbeat characters into deeply relatable people, making audiences laugh while quietly touching their hearts. Her performances carried both sharp comic timing and emotional sincerity, a combination that set her apart in Hollywood.

Born and raised in Toronto, she began her journey at the legendary Second City improv theatre in the 1970s. There she met longtime collaborator Eugene Levy , and together they became part of the original cast of SCTV , the cult sketch comedy show that produced stars like Martin Short and John Candy. The series showcased her improvisational brilliance and established her as one of the most versatile comic performers of her generation.

She soon found success in films, appearing in memorable roles in After Hours and Beetlejuice , before becoming a household name worldwide as Kevin McCallister’s anxious yet loving mother in Home Alone . The holiday classic turned her into a familiar face for families across generations.

A major career resurgence came later with Schitt’s Creek , where her portrayal of the dramatic, wig loving and vocabulary rich Moira Rose became a pop culture phenomenon. The role earned her a Primetime Emmy Award and introduced her to a whole new audience. With her theatrical accent, flamboyant style and impeccable comic delivery, Moira became one of television’s most iconic characters. Even in recent years, O’Hara continued to take on diverse roles, including a praised appearance in The Last of Us .

Tributes poured in from colleagues and admirers. Her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin shared an emotional note calling her “Mama” and saying he wished for more time together. Filmmaker Christopher Guest described her as “one of the comic giants of our age,” while actor Pedro Pascal said there was “less light” in his world without her. Fans across the globe remembered the comfort and laughter she brought into their homes for decades.

With a career spanning nearly half a century, Catherine O’Hara leaves behind a rich legacy of characters that were quirky, heartfelt and unforgettable. She is survived by her husband Bo Welch and her two sons. Long after the credits roll, her voice, humour and warmth will continue to live on through the stories she helped tell.