Hollywood actress Catherine O’Hara, famed for her work in films such as Home Alone and Beetlejuice, and her award-winning role in the TV comedy Schitt’s Creek, died on January 30, 2026, at the age of 71.
On Monday, February 9, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released her death certificate, confirming that the immediate cause of death was a pulmonary embolism — a blood clot in the lungs — with rectal cancer listed as the underlying condition, according to official records obtained by news outlets.
The certificate also noted that O’Hara was cremated and her remains were given to her husband, production designer Robert “Bo” Welch.
Earlier reports had stated that O’Hara had died following a “brief illness.” Shortly before her passing, emergency responders were called to her Los Angeles home, and she was taken to a hospital in serious condition, according to initial dispatch records.
O’Hara had not publicly disclosed her battle with rectal cancer prior to the release of the death certificate. The underlying condition’s inclusion in the official record marks the first public confirmation of her health struggles.
Born in Toronto in 1954, O’Hara’s career spanned more than five decades. She began in comedy at Toronto’s Second City Theatre and went on to star in numerous films and television shows. Her body of work includes iconic roles as Kevin McCallister’s mother in Home Alone and its sequel, Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, and the eccentric Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, a role that earned her major awards including an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award.
Her passing triggered a wave of tributes from fans, collaborators, and industry figures, reflecting her impact on comedy and entertainment worldwide.
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons.
