Actress Catherine O'Hara, “Home Alone” mom, passes at 71

Catherine O'Hara, the acclaimed actress from “Home Alone” and “Schitt's Creek,” died Friday at age 71. Her manager confirmed the news to USA Today. She passed at home after a brief illness, as reported by her agency CAA to Variety and Deadline.

The Canadian star built a storied career over decades. Born in 1954, she started with Toronto's Second City comedy troupe, according to USA Today. That group launched SCTV, where she earned an Emmy in 1982 for writing.

Iconic roles defined her legacy

O'Hara shone in films like Tim Burton's “Beetlejuice” as Delia Deetz in 1988. USA Today noted how she voiced characters in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and the 2024 “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

In 1990, she played Kate McCallister, mother to Macaulay Culkin's Kevin in “Home Alone.” She reprised the part in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” The duo stayed close as she attended his 2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, reports USA Today.

Upon hearing the news, Macaulay Culkin shared his sadness in an Instagram post. He posted “Home Alone” photos and one from his Walk of Fame event. "Mama. I thought we had time," he wrote, according to Fox News. "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.”

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“Schitt's Creek” brought her biggest acclaim. As Moira Rose, she won an Emmy in 2020 and a Golden Globe in 2021, recalls USA Today. The show exploded on Netflix after debuting on Pop TV in 2015. 

O'Hara married production designer Bo Welch in 1992 after meeting on “Beetlejuice.” They raised sons Matthew and Luke in Los Angeles' Brentwood, where she was named honorary mayor in 2021, according to Brentwood News LA.

Director Ron Howard called it "shattering news" on X. "What a wonderful person, artist and collaborator," he said, according to Fox News. "I was lucky enough to direct, produce and act in projects with her and she was simply growing more brilliant with each year. My heart goes out to Bo & family."

O'Hara leaves a legacy of laughter and awards.