Film and TV legend Catherine O’Hara has died at age 71 following “a brief illness,” Us Weekly can confirm.
TMZ was first to report the news on Friday, January 30, adding that her cause of death is currently unknown. A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson confirmed to Us that paramedics were called to O’Hara’s Brentwood home at 4:48 a.m. Friday morning for a medical aid call. She was transported in “serious condition” to the hospital.
News of O’Hara’s death comes after she had multiple TV show appearances in 2025, including The Last of Us, in which she had a guest-starring role as Gail. O’Hara also starred as Patty Leigh in Seth Rogen’s award-winning The Studio. She acted as a mentor to Rogen’s character, Matt Remick.
Despite the historic run for The Studio during this year’s ongoing awards season, O’Hara did not attend the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes with her castmates earlier this month.
She was last seen at an Emmy Awards party in September 2025. O’Hara was up for an Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category for her role in The Studio. (She lost to Hannah Einbinder, who took home the award for Hacks.)
“I am thrilled for all the lovely people on the show and honored to be in their company,” O’Hara said in a statement following the nomination. “And I’m so happy Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese are finally getting some much deserved attention thanks to The Studio!”
Catherine O’Hara Presley Ann/Getty Images for THR
She has become known as a Hollywood icon through her 50-year career. The actress is most known for her roles in the Home Alone film franchise and as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek.
“I don’t think of myself like that, but it’s nice that others do,” she told Variety in March 2025 of her status as a comedy icon, noting that she was always inherently funny. “There’s no better survival instinct. You’re so lucky if you’re raised with it. It’s one of God’s greatest gifts, because life is full of the dark and the light. You gotta look for the light.”
Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. The year started off with the sad news that Broadway performer and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford died at age 46. On January 8, PBS TV chef Elle Simone Scott died at age 49. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please […]
O’Hara added: “My parents were both really funny, and a sense of humor was always appreciated. Laughing and being funny was highly encouraged at our table.”
In 2022, O’Hara opened about her decision to embrace aging in Hollywood.
“First of all, I’m lucky to be alive, so I don’t mind aging,” she told Entertainment Tonight Canada at the time, offering a shoutout to Eugene and Dan Levy for giving her a role in Schitt’s Creek. “I’m so grateful that, thanks to the Levy gentlemen, I’ve been able to stay in my career.”
During the same interview, O’Hara explained that she’s never felt pressure to get work done — even as an aging actress.
“I’m a freak in that I’ve never had anything done to my face,” the actress explained at the time. “I don’t want to get surgery and I don’t want to get needles, other than acupuncture needles. I believe we should embrace and respect age and love ourselves for it.”
O’Hara is survived by husband Bo Welch, whom she married in 1992, and two sons Matthew, who was born in 1994, and Luke, who was born in 1997. Creative Artists Agency confirmed in a statement to Us on Friday that “a private celebration of life will be held by the family.”
