Catherine O'Hara, the comedic actress best known for her starring roles in the Home Alone and Beetlejuice films, as well as her Emmy-winning turn in Schitt's Creek, has died aged 71. The Canadian star rose to fame through Toronto's Second City improvisation troupe and on SCTV, before making a name for herself in 1988's Beetlejuice and as the matriarch in the holiday classic Home Alone. O'Hara, whose colleagues remembered her as a 'wonderful person, artist and collaborator', most recently appeared in the Emmy-winning comedy The Studio and HBO's The Last of Us.
In a statement to the BBC, O'Hara's agent said she died on Friday at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
O'Hara made lightning strike twice in her career with indelible cinematic turns. In 1988's spooky satire Beetlejuice, she played Delia Deetz who led her possessed dinner guests in an enthralling song and dance performance of Day-O (the Banana Boat song). Two years later, in Home Alone, her panicked scream of 'Kevin!' as she realized her mischievous eight-year-old son had been left behind during their Christmas holiday became one of the most memorable moments from one of the most successful film comedies ever.
Her young co-star Macaulay Culkin, now 45, paid tribute to his on-screen mother on Friday, sharing images of the two of them from the film and in later years: '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.'
The Toronto-born actress got her foot in the door as a waitress at the Toronto Second City theatre franchise in the 1970s, before auditioning for a role with the famed acting troupe. She further developed her comedic chops after joining the cast of sketch comedy show Second City Television (SCTV) alongside the likes of Eugene Levy and the late John Candy. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney joined Canadians and fans across the world in mourning O'Hara, stating, 'Over 5 decades of work, Catherine earned her place in the canon of Canadian comedy — from the iconic Toronto production of Godspell to SCTV to Schitt's Creek'. O'Hara also collaborated with Christopher Guest and co-writer Eugene Levy four times, and was recognized for her remarkable versatility as a performer with numerous awards and nominations throughout her career. Her character Moira in Schitt's Creek won her widespread acclaim, showcasing her unparalleled talent for comedy and performance. O'Hara is survived by her husband Bo Welch, her sons Matthew and Luke, and several siblings.
In a statement to the BBC, O'Hara's agent said she died on Friday at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
O'Hara made lightning strike twice in her career with indelible cinematic turns. In 1988's spooky satire Beetlejuice, she played Delia Deetz who led her possessed dinner guests in an enthralling song and dance performance of Day-O (the Banana Boat song). Two years later, in Home Alone, her panicked scream of 'Kevin!' as she realized her mischievous eight-year-old son had been left behind during their Christmas holiday became one of the most memorable moments from one of the most successful film comedies ever.
Her young co-star Macaulay Culkin, now 45, paid tribute to his on-screen mother on Friday, sharing images of the two of them from the film and in later years: '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.'
The Toronto-born actress got her foot in the door as a waitress at the Toronto Second City theatre franchise in the 1970s, before auditioning for a role with the famed acting troupe. She further developed her comedic chops after joining the cast of sketch comedy show Second City Television (SCTV) alongside the likes of Eugene Levy and the late John Candy. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney joined Canadians and fans across the world in mourning O'Hara, stating, 'Over 5 decades of work, Catherine earned her place in the canon of Canadian comedy — from the iconic Toronto production of Godspell to SCTV to Schitt's Creek'. O'Hara also collaborated with Christopher Guest and co-writer Eugene Levy four times, and was recognized for her remarkable versatility as a performer with numerous awards and nominations throughout her career. Her character Moira in Schitt's Creek won her widespread acclaim, showcasing her unparalleled talent for comedy and performance. O'Hara is survived by her husband Bo Welch, her sons Matthew and Luke, and several siblings.
