Home Alone's cherished mother, Catherine O'Hara died at the age of 71 on January 30, 2026. Her passing was confirmed by her manager, leaving the entire
Hollywood community and her fans worldwide in shock and mourning. Catherine, recognized for her role as Moira Rose in the CBC sitcom Schitt's Creek, died at her residence in Los Angeles after a short illness. While the exact cause of her death has not been disclosed, she is survived by her spouse Bo Welch and their two sons, Matthew and Luke. Shortly after the devastating news broke, her on-screen son, Macaulay Culkin, who portrayed Kevin McCallister in the two Home Alone films, shared a heartfelt tribute for his "mom." Other celebrities who paid tribute to Catherine included Ron Howard and Pedro Pascal, among others. Catherine will be remembered for her impressive body of work that spanned over five decades. While Schitt's Creek earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, Catherine remained actively involved in both film and television until the very end.
Catherine O'Hara's final on-screen role
Catherine O'Hara portrayed Patty Leigh, a former head of a film studio in the Apple TV+ series The Studio. This role garnered her multiple award nominations and was among her last dramatic television performances that aired before her passing. The seasoned actress also made a notable guest appearance as a therapist named Gail on HBO's acclaimed drama The Last of Us Second 2.
Catherine was also featured in John Candy: I Like Me (2025), a documentary honoring her longtime friend and SCTV collaborator John Candy. This is widely regarded as her final on-screen appearance. All of these projects debuted or were released in 2025, marking them as her last body of work that audiences experienced before her death.
Catherine O'Hara's last public appearance and remarks
In addition to her final screen roles, Catherine's highly publicized last public appearance occurred at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards and its associated events on September 14, 2025, where she posed gracefully for the cameras while celebrating her achievements. She received a nomination for her role in the American comedy The Studio. She also attended the after-party alongside her husband Bo Welch. "I am delighted for all the wonderful people involved in the show," Catherine shared with E! News.
The actress also joined the rest of The Studio's cast and crew on stage to accept the award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
The week before, Catherine had received the TIFF Tribute Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2025, where her longtime collaborator Eugene Levy presented her with the honor. "When I reflect on my happiest moments in this journey through show business, I realize that most of them have been with you (Eugene Levy)," she expressed at the event.
All this occurred four months prior to her passing.
