Catherine O’Hara Dies at 71 After Emergency Hospital Rush

Catherine O’Hara, the actress known for her roles in Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, died on January 30, 2026, at age 71. She suffered breathing difficulties at her home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles early that morning, leading to an emergency call to paramedics. Responders arrived around 4:48 a.m., found her in serious condition, and took her to a nearby hospital, where she later passed away after a brief illness.

Background

Catherine O’Hara built a long career in comedy and acting that lasted more than 50 years. She started out in the 1970s on the Canadian sketch show Second City Television, or SCTV, where she worked alongside John Candy, Eugene Levy, and others. Her work there earned her an Emmy Award for her sharp performances in sketches that poked fun at TV and movies.

From SCTV, she moved into films. She played the mom in Home Alone, the 1990 hit where she chased after her son Kevin with worry and humor. That role made her face familiar to millions. She also appeared in other movies like Beetlejuice, where she brought wild energy to her part, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, voicing the shocked Sally.

Television became a big part of her later work. In Schitt’s Creek, which ran from 2015 to 2020, she played Moira Rose, the dramatic matriarch of the Rose family. Her over-the-top wigs, wild outfits, and line readings won her an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020. The show itself took home awards and became a fan favorite for its family story and laughs.

O’Hara also showed up in recent projects. She had a role in The Last of Us, the HBO series based on the video game. Her range went from broad comedy to more grounded parts, always with a touch of heart. Born in 1954 in Ontario, Canada, she grew up in a big family with six siblings. She married production designer Bo Welch in 1992, and they had two sons, Matthew and Luke.

Key Details

The events of her final hours came to light through reports from emergency responders. A call went out from her Brentwood home just before 5 a.m. on Friday. The person on the line reported breathing issues. Los Angeles Fire Department members arrived quickly and assessed her as in serious condition. They transported her to the hospital right away.

Her agency, Creative Artists Agency, confirmed the death later that day. They said it followed a brief illness at her home. No exact cause has been released. Audio from the 911 call described the breathing problem clearly, but details stopped there.

O’Hara had spoken before about her health. She lived with situs inversus, a rare condition where the major organs in the chest and abdomen sit in mirror image from normal—heart on the right, liver on the left, and so on. She learned about it later in life during a routine test. Doctors needed extra equipment for an EKG because the machine did not match her setup. A chest X-ray then showed the reversal.

Her Words on the Condition

In a 2020 talk on Virtual Happy Hour, O’Hara shared the moment of discovery.

“I was like, ‘What is happening?’ He calls us into his office and says ‘You’re the first one I’ve met! I’m one of seven kids and my parents were already gone and left the world by that time. Never heard anything about this.”

— Catherine O’Hara

She noted that people with situs inversus often live normal lives. It comes from a genetic change and can pass in families. O’Hara said she felt lucky to know about it and kept going with her work. In 2022, she told Entertainment Tonight she did not mind aging because she felt fortunate to be alive.

Tributes started coming in right after the news broke. Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in Home Alone, posted on Instagram.

“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.”

— Macaulay Culkin

Pedro Pascal, her co-star from The Last of Us, wrote about her genius and how the world had less light without her. He called her the one and only Catherine O’Hara. Fans and friends filled social media with memories of her laughs and talent.

What This Means

O’Hara’s death marks the end of a key voice in comedy. Schitt’s Creek creator Eugene Levy, who often worked with her, has not spoken yet, but their long partnership shaped much of her later success. The show’s fans see her as irreplaceable, with Moira’s voice and style standing out.

Her passing comes at a time when older actors from her era, like those from SCTV, face health challenges. John Candy died young in 1994, and others have slowed down. O’Hara stayed active into her 70s, taking roles that showed her depth.

For her family, Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke now handle the loss. Welch designed sets for films like Men in Black and worked on Schitt’s Creek too. They met in the 1990s and built a quiet life together away from the spotlight.

Hollywood feels the gap. Comedy sketches, family films, and TV shows lose one of their best. New actors may look to her work for lessons in timing and feeling. Streams of Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek likely see jumps as people revisit her parts.

Awards groups may honor her soon. She had Emmys, Golden Globes nods, and Screen Actors Guild wins. Talks of lifetime tributes could start. Her influence shows in how many cite her as a teacher of funny faces and voices.

Fans plan ways to remember her. Online groups share clips from SCTV days to recent interviews. Her line from Schitt’s Creek, “Take off, you hoser,” from SCTV roots, pops up often. The industry moves on, but her spots in holiday movies and binge watches keep her close.