Catherine O’Hara, the versatile Emmy Award-winning actress whose career spanned more than five decades and included memorable roles in “Schitt’s Creek,” “Home Alone” and “Best in Show,” has died at age 71, it was reported Friday.
The Canadian-born O’Hara died at her home in Los Angeles “following a brief illness,” according to a statement from her agency, CAA. Further details were not immediately available.
Born in Toronto on March 4, 1954, O’Hara rose to prominence as a cast member of the Canadian sketch comedy series “Second City Television,” where her sharp comic instincts and gift for character work helped define the show’s irreverent tone. She served as an understudy for Gilda Radner before Radner left to join “Saturday Night Live.”
She earned her first Emmy Award for her work on the series, which became a launching pad for a generation of comedians.
O’Hara went on to build an eclectic film and television career, appearing in movies such as “After Hours,” “Beetlejuice” and the first two “Home Alone” films, in which she played the frantic but devoted mother of Macaulay Culkin’s character, Kevin. The role introduced her to a global audience and became one of the most enduring performances of the holiday classic.
She also guest-starred on several top-rated television series, including “Six Feet Under” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
In 2008, she signed on to star in the ABC dramedy “Good Behavior.”
Her performance in the 2010 television film “Temple Grandin” earned her nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Satellite Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
In 2012, she voiced three characters — Mrs. Frankenstein, Weird Girl and the Gym Teacher — in Tim Burton’s animated film “Frankenweenie,” showcasing her vocal range.
She also lent her voice to animated films such as “A Nightmare Before Christmas” in 1993 and “Chicken Little” in 2005.
O’Hara went on to star in several of Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, including “Waiting for Guffman” in 1996 and “Best in Show” in 2000.
In 2007, O’Hara was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Later in her career, O’Hara earned widespread acclaim for her portrayal of the eccentric and glamorous Moira Rose on “Schitt’s Creek,” a role that brought her renewed fame and multiple awards, including an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series.
O’Hara supported a range of charities, including Upward Bound House, a Los Angeles nonprofit focused on ending homelessness. She won $250,000 for the charity during a 2020 appearance on the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
O’Hara met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of “Beetlejuice,” where he worked in that capacity. They married in 1992.
She is survived by Welch and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.