Catherine O’Hara recently opened up about the bittersweet memories surrounding her 40th birthday, which coincided with the heartbreaking loss of her “Home Alone” co-star, John Candy.

O’Hara, whose unexpected passing at the age of 71 was reported on Friday, reflected on the emotional whirlwind of calls she received during that time. Friends and family reached out to celebrate her milestone birthday, yet the conversations inevitably turned solemn as they shared in the grief of Candy’s untimely death.

In Paul Myers’ book, “John Candy: A Life in Comedy,” published last year, O’Hara shared, “Someone would call and say, ‘Oh, happy birthday,’ and I’d respond, ‘Oh, thanks.’ Then there’d be a pause and they’d mention John, so we’d naturally talk about him.”

She expressed the profound sadness she felt, noting that Candy had died of a heart attack at just 43 years old in March 1994. The loss left a significant impact on O’Hara, who also recalled a poignant moment when Candy predicted his own death.

Reflecting on their bond, O’Hara revealed that Candy frequently appeared in her dreams after his death, a testament to their enduring connection. “I still dream about him once in a while,” she admitted. She recounted a particularly vivid dream where they were enjoying each other’s company and joking around, only for the mood to shift when she mentioned his passing. Candy, in the dream, humorously responded, “Aww, you had to say it out loud.”

‘A couple of years ago, I had a dream, and we were just hanging out and doing bits, and then I said something about him being dead and he went, “Aww, you had to say it out loud.”‘ 

Catherine O’Hara — whose death at 71 was announced on Friday — recently recalled how her 40th birthday was marred by the tragedy of John Candy passing away; O’Hara pictured 2024

The actress famously starred alongside Candy in her 1990 blockbuster holiday classic Home Alone; The two seen in a still from Home Alone

‘And I went, “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you knew.” [And he said] “I did, but we didn’t have to say it.” I felt like I really let him down. I was so, so sad.’ 

The actress — who previously confessed to having ‘such a crush’ on Candy — starred alongside Candy in Second City Television (SCTV), which debuted in 1976, and in her 1990 blockbuster holiday classic Home Alone.

He had a minor, yet important, role as the ‘Polka King of the Midwest’ in Home Alone. His character Gus Polinski helps reunite Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) with his mother (O’Hara), making for a happy ending. 

He also starred alongside Culkin in the 1989 film Uncle Buck before they were reunited on the set of the holiday classic. 

O’Hara first met Candy within a tight-knit circle of friends that included her Schitt’s Creek co-star Eugene Levy, Martin Short, and Dave Thomas. The pair remained close as both of their careers began to soar.

Candy was one of the most successful stars of his generation, winning millions of fans all over the world with his stellar acting and comedic timing before his vibrant life and career were prematurely cut short.

In December 1993 Candy would travel to Durango, Mexico to film Western comedy Wagons East – which would be his final movie.

O’Hara recalled a phone call in which Candy spoke of an ominous feeling about traveling to Mexico.

O’Hara remembered the ‘weirdest mix of phone calls’ after Candy’s passing, with people wanting to celebrate her but also mourn Candy; They are seen with Andrea Martin and Eugene Levy in a throwback snap

She went on to recall how she ‘dreamt about him so much after he died,’ adding, ‘I still dream about him once in a while.’ Candy died of a heart attack at age 43 in May 1994; Seen 1983

Aside from Home Alone, they starred together in Second City Television (SCTV) which debuted in 1976; She is seen in a still from SCTV

He reportedly told her: ‘I don’t want to go down there’ as he felt ‘something bad is going to happen there’.

His final day was spent filming – the star wrapped his work at 10pm, with only two more scenes left to shoot before Candy could finally return home to California.

The next day, his concerned bodyguard let himself into the room after failing to reach him by phone. He found Candy ‘half in and half out of bed’, clad in a long red and black checked nightshirt.

Candy was pronounced dead at 9am due to a massive heart attack.

In 2024, O’Hara opened up about her longtime crush on Candy.

Candy was married to Rosemary Margaret Hobor from 1979 until his death in 1994.

While O’Hara didn’t think she had any romantic interest in her since he was happily married, she admitted she had, ‘such a crush’ on the actor.

‘He was just as lovely as you want him to be,’ O’Hara admitted of her co-star.

‘You’d be on the street with him, in a mall, and somebody would come up and just want to do a comedy bit with him, and he would always pick up on it right away and give something back and see their eyes light up, like, “Oh, I’m doing a bit with John Candy,”‘ she added.

News of O’Hara’s death broke on Friday. The actress passed away ‘following a brief illness,’ though the cause of death has not been released; She is seen January 30 at the Emmy Awards

The actress became a household name playing Macaulay Culkin’s mom in the first two Home Alone films; Pictured with Culkin in Home Alone 

‘It’s so nice to be able to not have to make up any bull, because people loved him. And when people ask, “What was he like?” they want to hear what they think he’d be like. And it’s so lovely to be able to validate their guesses about what he would be like in person,’ she added.

News of O’Hara’s death broke on Friday.

The actress passed away ‘following a brief illness,’ her agency CAA said in a statement, though the cause of death has not been released.

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘At 4:48 am we responded to a request for medical aid to that address and transported an approximately 70-year-old female in serious condition.’

She leaves behind her husband of 30-plus years Bo Welch, and their sons Matthew, 32, and Luke, 29.

O’Hara’s last public appearance was at the Emmys in September, where she appeared frail on the red carpet.