Daily London
Actress Catherine O’Hara, the star of Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, has died, aged 71.
The Canadian-born star died at her home in Los Angeles “following a brief illness”, according to a statement from her agency.
O’Hara had been starring in hit sitcom The Studio, which was just about to launch its second season after scooping a number of Emmys last year on debut.
The Emmy-winning actor, who was born in Toronto, was known for comedic roles across decades — from Kevin’s beleaguered mum in Home Alone to the iconic Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek.
O’Hara’s career was launched at the Second City in Toronto in the in 1970s, an improvisation and sketch comedy theatre group.
It was there that she first worked with Eugene Levy, who would become a lifelong collaborator – and her Schitt’s Creek co-star.
The two would be among the original cast of the sketch show SCTV, which would help launch the careers of other top Canadian comedians, like Martin Short and Andrea Martin.
O’Hara turned to collaborating with director Christopher Guest, starring in many of his iconic mockumentaries, including Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show.
She also starred in Tim Burton’s 1988 hit Beetlejuice and its 2024 sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
O’Hara’s dramatic turn in HBO’s The Last of Us earned her an Emmy nomination, as did her recent role as a Hollywood producer in The Studio.
The actor is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and sons Matthew and Luke.
– Reported with Associated Press.
