Schitts Creek and Home Alone actor Catherine O’Hara dies at 71

Catherine O’Hara Passes Away at Age 71

Emmy-winning performer Catherine O’Hara, widely admired for her comedic portrayals such as Kevin’s mother in Home Alone and Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, has passed away at the age of 71. The Canadian-born star died at her Los Angeles residence following a brief illness, according to a statement released by her agency, Creative Artists Agency, on Friday. No further details about the circumstances were disclosed.

O’Hara began her professional journey in the 1970s at Second City, an improvisational comedy troupe located in Toronto. During this time, she met Eugene Levy, who would go on to become her long-term collaborator. The pair worked together both on Schitt’s Creek and in the original cast of the sketch series SCTV, which helped introduce other notable comedians including Martin Short, Andrea Martin, John Candy, and Rick Moranis.

Schitt’s Creek became the defining success of O’Hara’s later career and a clear reflection of her distinctive comedic flair. The critically acclaimed series, centered on a wealthy family adjusting to life in a small town, swept the Emmy Awards in its sixth and final season in 2020.

O’Hara is survived by her husband Bo Welch and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.