Catherine O’Hara, the acclaimed actor known for Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, has died aged 71.
Her manager confirmed her death on Saturday, saying she passed away after a brief illness. No further details were provided.
O’Hara rose to prominence in the 1970s as part of Canada’s influential sketch comedy programme SCTV, before building a decades-long career across film and television. She became widely known for her role as Kevin McCallister’s mother in Home Alone and later earned global acclaim as Moira Rose in the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
Her film work included Beetlejuice, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration, frequently collaborating with director Christopher Guest. She also voiced characters in several animated films and continued working steadily into recent years.
O’Hara won an Emmy Award for Schitt’s Creek and received multiple nominations for her later television roles. Tributes from co-stars and filmmakers described her as a defining figure in modern comedy.
