Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated actress known for her roles in films like Home Alone and Beetlejuice and more recently for her work in Schitt’s Creek and The Last of Us, died on January 30th in Los Angeles, according to reports confirmed by multiple news outlets.
Initial reports of O’Hara’s passing emerged on Friday, prompting tributes from fellow actors and fans. Yet, the cause of death remained undisclosed for ten days. TMZ first reported, and sources including the BBC, ABC News, and The New York Times have since confirmed, that O’Hara’s death was the result of a pulmonary embolism stemming from a previously undisclosed battle with rectal cancer.
According to the TMZ report, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical aid call at O’Hara’s Brentwood home at 4:48 a.m. On January 30th. Firefighters transported the actress, described as being in grave condition, to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
O’Hara’s family maintained privacy throughout the process. Her body was cremated, and the ashes were given to her husband, Robert Welch, a Hollywood production designer whom she met on the set of Beetlejuice. The couple had been married for decades.
O’Hara’s recent public appearances included receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, presented by her Schitt’s Creek co-star Eugene Levy. She also attended the Emmy Awards in November. Reports noted she appeared thinner at these events, but she did not attend the Golden Globe Awards in January.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry. Macaulay Culkin, who co-starred with O’Hara in Home Alone, posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, stating, “Mom. I thought we had more time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit and talk to you. I wanted to hear your voice. But you had so much more to say. I love you. See you later.” Other actors offering condolences include Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Keaton, Pedro Pascal, Michael Bublé, and Rita Wilson.
