Jun 9, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Catherine O’Hara introduces a performance by the cast of the musical “Beetlejuice” during the 73rd Annual Tony Awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY
Catherine O’Hara, the celebrated actress whose career spanned decades of comedy and drama, died from a pulmonary embolism, according to her official death certificate. She was 71. O’Hara passed away on January 30 at a hospital in Santa Monica, with the document also noting rectal cancer as a major underlying condition. Reports indicate she had been receiving treatment for the illness since March 2025.
News of O’Hara’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief across the entertainment world, with colleagues and co-stars sharing emotional tributes across social media. In recent years, she continued to expand her already iconic legacy with standout roles in major projects, including HBO’s The Last of Us and the Emmy-winning series The Studio.
Seth Rogen, who created The Studio and worked closely with O’Hara, shared his heartbreak, describing her as “hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous.” In his tribute, he added, “We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it,” reflecting the impact she had both professionally and personally on those around her.
Pedro Pascal, her co-star in The Last of Us, also honored O’Hara’s memory in a touching Instagram message. “Oh, genius to be near you,” Pascal wrote. “Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always.”
Sep 19, 2021; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eugene Levy, Daniel Levy, Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy arrive at the 73rd Emmy Awards at L.A. Live. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
O’Hara is perhaps best known to modern audiences for her unforgettable performance as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, a role that earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The series ran for six seasons and became a cultural phenomenon, further cementing O’Hara’s reputation as one of the most gifted comedic performers of her generation.
Her longtime collaborator Eugene Levy, who co-created Schitt’s Creek, reflected on their decades-long friendship and partnership, saying it was an “honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O’Hara for over fifty years.” He added that “words seem inadequate” to express the loss he felt.
Sep 15, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eugene Levy and Dan Levy speak during the start of the telecast at the 76th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles,. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
Dan Levy, who played O’Hara’s on-screen son and co-created the series, wrote on Instagram that she was “family before she ever played my family,” sharing that he would “cherish every funny memory” they made together.
Macaulay Culkin, who portrayed her son in Home Alone, posted a deeply personal tribute on Instagram: “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more,” he wrote. “I love you. I’ll see you later.”
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, their sons Matthew and Luke, and six siblings.
A pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the lungs. It can develop suddenly and may cause severe breathing problems, chest pain, or coughing up blood.
