Catherine O’Hara, the versatile Canadian actress celebrated for her wide-ranging comedic talents, has passed away at the age of 71. Known for her iconic roles such as the flamboyant Moira Rose in the beloved series “Schitt’s Creek” and the frazzled mother in the holiday classic “Home Alone,” O’Hara leaves behind a legacy cherished by many.
News of her death has sparked heartfelt tributes from across the globe, including moving messages from her “Home Alone” co-star Macaulay Culkin and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The loss of this beloved actress has resonated deeply within the entertainment community and beyond.
According to a report by the BBC, which referenced a statement from Creative Artists Agency, O’Hara passed away on Friday at her residence in Los Angeles following a brief illness. The news has left fans and colleagues alike mourning the loss of a true comedic genius.
Throughout her illustrious career, O’Hara brought to life a diverse array of characters. She became a household name with her portrayal of Kate McCallister, the frantic mother of Macaulay Culkin’s character Kevin in “Home Alone.” Additionally, her role as Delia Deetz in the cult classic “Beetlejuice” further cemented her status as a versatile and beloved performer.
An outpouring of tributes
Culkin paid homage to O’Hara on Instagram.
“Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later,” Culkin wrote alongside images of the two of them.
Carney wrote on X: “I join Canadians and fans across the world in mourning the loss of Catherine O’Hara.”
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, called her “a beloved Canadian icon with a rare gift for comedy and heart” on X.
“She made people laugh across generations.”
O’Hara was born on March 4, 1954, and grew up in Toronto as the sixth of seven children.
She began her acting career in 1974 as a cast member of the improvisational theatre troupe called The Second City in Toronto.
‘When in doubt, play insane’
O’Hara eventually joined the company in 1974. However, she later confessed to feeling anxious whenever she was on the stage.
“My crutch was, in improvs, when in doubt, play insane. Because you didn’t have to excuse anything that came out of your mouth. It didn’t have to make sense,” she admitted to The New Yorker in 2019.
O’Hara eventually landed a role on a TV sketch show called Second City Television, which aired on NBC in the 80s.
The actress became famous for her impressions of various well-known celebrities, including Meryl Streep and Brooke Shields.
She eventually worked with Streep on the film Heartburn and her co-star paid tribute in a statement.
“Catherine O’Hara brought love and light to our world, through whipsmart compassion for the collection of eccentrics she portrayed … such a loss for her family and friends, and the audience she graced as friends,” she said.
O’Hara made her film debut in 1980, when she starred alongside the likes of John Candy and Eugene Levy in Double Negative.
In 1988, she starred as Delia Deetz, the stepmother of Winona Ryder’s Lydia, in the hit movie Beetlejuice, which proved to be a huge commercial success.
Her Beetlejuice co-star Michael Keaton paid tribute, saying: “She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and real life true friend”.
“This one hurts. Man am I going to miss her.”
O’Hara — who reprised her most famous role as Kevin’s mum for 1992’s Home Alone 2: Lost in New York — told People: “It’s a perfect movie, isn’t it?”
Her her simple, one-word line reading of “KEVIN!!!” – the child she kept leaving behind – became iconic.
O’Hara is survived by her husband Bo Welch, whom she met in 1987 on the set of “Beetlejuice,” and their two sons.
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