Beloved actress Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71.
Known for her roles as Macaulay Culkin’s mother in the first two Home Alone films, as well as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, TMZ reports the actress died on Friday.
No cause of death has yet been released.
The Emmy-winning performer built an extraordinary career spanning several decades, becoming one of the most beloved comic actresses of her generation.
Her death marks a significant loss for the entertainment industry, where she had remained active until recently with new television projects.
O’Hara first rose to prominence as part of the ensemble cast on SCTV, the groundbreaking Canadian sketch comedy programme that served as a launching pad for numerous comedy talents.
Her film career flourished with memorable performances in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice and Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries Best in Show and A Mighty Wind.
She portrayed Macaulay Culkin’s mother Kate McCallister in the beloved Home Alone franchise, a role that introduced her to audiences worldwide.
Perhaps her most iconic television performance came in 2015 when she began playing the flamboyant Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, a character she inhabited for six seasons.
The role represented a full-circle return to her television roots and earned her widespread critical acclaim.
She also lent her voice to Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Her extensive career earned her numerous accolades, including two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The recognition reflected both her comedic talents and her ability to create deeply memorable characters across film and television.
Most recently, O’Hara received an Emmy nomination for her work on Apple TV’s The Studio, where she appeared alongside Seth Rogen.
She had also garnered Emmy recognition for her performance in The Last of Us, demonstrating her continued relevance in contemporary television.
Her portrayal of Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek proved particularly fruitful at awards ceremonies, cementing her status as one of the finest comic performers of her era.