Iconic ‘Home Alone’ Actress Catherine O’Hara Dead At 71

Emmy Award-winning actress Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71.

The iconic star was best known for her roles in movies such as “Beetlejuice” (1988), “Home Alone” (1990), “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992), “Waiting for Guffman” (1996), and “Best in Show” (2000). O’Hara also starring in the cult classic TV comedy “Schitt’s Creek,” which earned her the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.

O’Hara’s manager confirmed the news of her death Friday, per ABC News, but no other details were immediately available.

O’Hara had a long and varied Hollywood career spanning across TV and movies, mostly in the comedy genre. Her most recent project was the Apple TV+ series “The Studio” along with Seth Rogen. Her role in the series earned her an Emmy nomination in 2025.

The Canadian actress was born in Toronto in 1954 as the sixth of seven children. Like so many other comedic actors, she got her start at the Second City Theater in Toronto alongside legends such as Dan Aykroyd, Joe Flaherty, Gilda Radner, and Eugene Levy. She became a staple character before moving on to films and scripted television.

O’Hara met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of “Beetlejuice” in 1988. The pair wed in 1992 and had two sons: Matthew in 1994 and Luke in 1997.

O’Hara stayed close with her “Home Alone” co-star Macaulay Culkin for decades and was there when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

The actress said “Home Alone” got her recognized plenty, but the massive fandom of “Schitt’s Creek” was surprising.

“I used to mostly get people named Kevin who’d come up to me and ask me to yell ‘Kevin!’ in their faces,” O’Hara told People in 2020. “Now it’s mostly about Moira and ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ I’ve never gotten this kind of attention in my life. It’s crazy.”