Emmy-Winning Actor Catherine O’Hara Dies at 71

Actor Catherine O’Hara died on January 30th, 2026, at 71. Known for her iconic roles in Beetlejuice and Home Alone, O’Hara’s legacy will always be remembered. Here’s a look into the life and successful career of the legendary actor loved by many.

early life

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Catherine O’Hara was born on March 4th, 1954 in Toronto, Canada. Surrounded by a family that loved to laugh, humor was a huge part of O’Hara’s life. She would often do impersonations to make her family laugh. 

Her first official step into the comedy industry occurred after she graduated high school and became a waitress at Second City Theater, an improvisational comedy club. She went from being a waitress to becoming American comedian and actress Gilda Radner’s understudy. In 1974, O’Hara became a member of the comedy club. And so began her comedy career.

O’Hara’s fame quickly rose in Canada. By the 1980s, the actor had already acquired multiple TV and movie roles. Her writing and performance in Second City TV was especially popular. But O’Hara wouldn’t stop there–she would go on to bag some of the most iconic roles in Hollywood.

most iconic roles

Source: Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

O’Hara first became popular in the United States through her role as Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988). On the set, she met production designer Bo Welch who would be her future husband. After moving to the United States, O’Hara moved on to play other iconic roles, such as Kate McCallister, the mother of Kevin in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). O’Hara also voiced the character Sally in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). 

Later in her career, O’Hara would gain other notable roles, such as Justice Straus in the film Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) and Moira Rose in popular TV show Schitt’s Creek. She even returned as Delia Deetz in the 2024 Beetlejuice sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. O’Hara’s memorable roles became a part of many people’s childhood. 

a successful career

Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo by Harold Krichel. CC by 4.0.

Throughout her career, O’Hara gained many achievements. From Primetime Emmy and Critics Choice Awards to the Golden Globes–O’Hara received lots of recognition in her career. In 2020, she won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Schitt’s Creek at the Primetime Emmy Awards. She later went on to win Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 at the Critics Choice Awards for the same role. 

In 2025, O’Hara was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in The Studio and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in The Last of Us at the Primetime Emmy Awards. At the 2026 Golden Globes, O’Hara was nominated for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television for The Studio. With each year and new iconic role, O’Hara continued to grow successful in the acting and comedy world.

how she died

Source: Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

On January 30th, 2026, Catherine O’Hara died at age 71. Her manager revealed that she’d had a “brief illness.” According to OK! Magazine, the Los Angeles Fire Department revealed that they brought the actor to the hospital after responding to a call around 5 a.m. Although the exact cause of death is still unclear, O’Hara had previously revealed that she suffered from a rare medical condition–cardiac inversus, a condition where the heart and other internal organs are on the opposite side of the body. Although the condition is asymptomatic, it can cause complications. 

At this time, her family does not wish to provide more information on the actor’s death. O’Hara was married to Bo Welch and was the mother of two sons, Matthew and Luke. 

her legacy

Catherine O’Hara has touched the lives of many through her roles, but most importantly, she has made many, many people laugh. From childhood favorites like Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas to adult comedies like Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara has brought joy to people of all ages, and she will always be remembered.