Catherine O’Hara, a well-known Canadian actress and comedian who has worked in the film and television industry for the past 50 years, passed away at her home in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026. She was 71 years old. The cause of death was a brief illness, her representatives at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) announced.

Catherine O’Hara’s death has sparked an outpouring of condolences and tributes from fans, peers and public figures around the world. Internet celebrity Zack Peter was one of the interviewees and he posted on social media platform X on January 31, 2026 in memory of her and expressed his admiration for her character.

Peter said in a short video posted on his X account:

“I just want to get a little credit for what an incredible, great actress she is?”

He added:

“Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, is probably one of my favorite characters, an iconic character from Home Alone, an iconic character from ‘Beetlejuice,’ and I just watched ‘Beetlejuice’ a couple weeks ago, and I mean, what an incredible actress.”

As featured in the video, Peter highlights some of Catherine O’Hara’s most memorable performances, her versatility and her impact on classic comedy and film roles. He specifically mentioned her roles in a number of films classic moviesinclude home alone and Beetlejuice.

Co-stars Macaulay Culkin and Pedro Pascal also paid tribute.

Catherine O’Hara Early Life and Career Beginnings

death Catherine O’Hara Her representatives announced the news on January 30, 2026, after a brief illness at her Los Angeles residence.

Early that morning, she became ill with acute breathing difficulties and someone asked for help. Paramedics arrived and she was taken to hospital in critical condition, where she later died.

According to People magazine, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department said that at 4:48 a.m. Pacific time, rescue personnel received a call from the actress’ residence reporting that an unidentified woman was in “serious condition” and had “difficulty breathing.”

Official cause of her death has not been publicly announced, but initial reports cited a sudden deterioration in her condition.

Catherine O’Hara was born on March 4, 1954. torontoShe entered the entertainment industry in the 1970s with local comedy troupe Second City Toronto in Ontario, Canada, gaining a background in sketch and improvisational humor.

Her initial efforts earned her a role on SCTV, a comedy show that launched the careers of a generation of Canadian actors and set the course for an extensive career on stage, television and film. Movie.

She is best known for her role as the eccentric Moira Rose on the critically acclaimed television comedy series Schitt’s Creek, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Her work on the show greatly increased her international profile and introduced her to a new generation of viewers. She also happens to be popular in two Home movies as Kate McCallister, a loving but crazy mother. alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkand the bizarre description of her role as Delia Deetz in the movie Beetlejuice.

In addition to these iconic roles, Catherine O’Hara has appeared in Christopher Guest’s collective documentaries and lent her voice to the following animated features: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Elements, and wild robot. She was also recently nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the HBO series the last of us and Apple TV+ studio.

Catherine O’Hara’s work remains part of a body of work that receives widespread attention and critical recognition, and continues to be viewed and discussed.