Catherine O’Hara Kept Illness Private Before Death, Leaving Hollywood Reeling

Beloved comedy icon Catherine O’Hara has died at 71, and new details are shedding light on how quietly she faced her final days.

According to reports, O’Hara and her husband of 33 years, Bo Welch, kept her illness private, even from many of those closest to her. Friends were reportedly left in “complete shock” when the news broke on Friday.

Her agency, Creative Artists Agency, confirmed her passing, saying the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress died at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to an early-morning call and transported her to a hospital in serious condition. While an official cause of death has not been released, 911 dispatch audio indicated she was having breathing difficulties in her final hours.

What makes the news even more heartbreaking is how active O’Hara still was. She had been set to film Season 2 of The Studio, created by Seth Rogen, but quietly stepped away just days before her death. Production was reportedly reworked to film scenes without her character as she dealt with “personal matters.” Insiders say few people knew she was struggling with serious health issues.

O’Hara leaves behind Welch and their two sons, Matthew, 31, and Luke, 29.

For decades, she was a scene-stealing force in comedy. She earned cult-classic status in films like Beetlejuice, Waiting for Guffman, and Best in Show, before becoming a household name as Kevin’s frazzled mom in Home Alone. In recent years, she enjoyed a massive career resurgence as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, winning new fans around the world.

In a 2024 interview that has since resurfaced, O’Hara spoke openly about gratitude and survival. She said she felt “lucky to be alive” and amazed she was still landing major roles. “How lucky are you right now to be alive?” she reflected. “And then to have this opportunity right here in this moment?”

Following her death, tributes poured in from across Hollywood.

Director Tim Burton wrote that she was “a special part of my life and after life.” Longtime collaborator and friend Eugene Levy shared an emotional message recalling their decades together, from the Second City stage to SCTV, Christopher Guest films, and six “glorious years” on Schitt’s Creek.

One of the most touching tributes came from Macaulay Culkin, who played her on-screen son in Home Alone. “Mama. I thought we had time,” he wrote. “I wanted more.”

O’Hara’s family has confirmed they will hold a private celebration of life. While the world mourns, fans are revisiting her unforgettable performances—and the warmth, humor, and heart she brought to every role.