Actress Catherine O’Hara, Known for Roles in Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, Dies at 71

Actress Catherine O’Hara, Known for Roles in Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, Dies at 71

Catherine O’Hara, a Canadian actress and comedian known for her work across film and television, died on January 30, 2026. Her manager confirmed her passing to People Magazine. 

 

O’Hara began her career in comedy on the sketch show SCTV, where she worked as both performer and writer and received an Emmy Award for writing contributions.

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She appeared in a wide range of films, including Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas and its later sequel, and Home Alone and its follow-up, in which she portrayed the mother figure central to the story. 

 

O’Hara also featured in several mockumentary films, including Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration.

 

On television, O’Hara was widely recognized for her portrayal of Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, a role that earned her major industry awards including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for lead performance.

 

She also received Emmy nominations for her work on later television projects.

 

Her professional work extended to voice acting in animated films and appearances on a variety of television series

This obituary was written in conjunction with ChatGPT