Ask Onix
Hollywood mourns Catherine O'Hara, comedy icon, dead at 71
Tributes poured in Saturday after the Emmy-winning actor died at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness. Meryl Streep, Pedro Pascal, and Ben Stiller led an outpouring of grief for the Canadian star, celebrated for her roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and Schitt's Creek.
Career spanning five decades
O'Hara began in Canada's comedy scene before delivering a string of unforgettable performances that earned critical acclaim. She rose to global fame in Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice, reprising the role in this year's sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Her portrayal of Kate McCallister in Home Alone and its 2002 sequel became holiday staples.
In recent years, she won a Golden Globe for her role as the eccentric Moira Rose in the CBC comedy Schitt's Creek, a performance that introduced her to a new generation of fans.
Colleagues remember her wit and warmth
Meryl Streep, who starred with O'Hara in the 1986 film Heartburn, called her death "such a loss for her family, friends, and the audience she graced as friends." Streep praised O'Hara's ability to bring "love and light to our world through whipsmart compassion for the collection of eccentrics she portrayed."
Pedro Pascal, her co-star in The Last of Us, said he was "eternally grateful" to have worked with her. "There is less light in my world," he wrote, adding, "This lucky world that had you will keep you, always."
"We go back before the first Beetlejuice. She's been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis, and my real-life, true friend. This one hurts. Man, am I gonna miss her."
Michael Keaton, co-star in Beetlejuice films
Tim Burton, who directed both Beetlejuice films, shared a cast photo from the 2024 sequel on Facebook, writing, "Catherine, I love you. This picture shows how much light you gave to all of us."
Legacy in comedy and film
Ben Stiller called O'Hara's impact on comedy "hard to explain," saying, "For me, there was no one better." Alec Baldwin, her Beetlejuice co-star, described her as "one of the greatest comic talents in the movie business," noting her "quality that was all her own."
Seth Rogen, who directed O'Hara in this year's The Studio, said she was the "funniest person" he had ever watched on screen. "Getting to work with her was a true honor," he wrote. Christopher Guest, who collaborated with her on four films, including Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, called her "one of the comic giants of our age."
Family and fans react
Macaulay Culkin, who played her on-screen son in Home Alone, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram. "Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you," he wrote. "I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I'll see you later."
Dan Levy, who played her son in Schitt's Creek, called O'Hara "family before she ever played my family." His father, Eugene Levy, who starred alongside her for over 50 years, told Variety, "Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today. I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship. And I will miss her."
Annie Murphy, who played her daughter in the series, remembered O'Hara's infectious laugh, writing, "Gosh, were we ever lucky to have her."
Canada pays tribute to a national icon
Fellow Canadian Mike Myers, known for Austin Powers and Shrek, called her death "a very sad day for comedy and for Canada." Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed her as a "beloved Canadian icon," while current Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said the country had "lost a legend."
Survivors and upcoming honors
O'Hara is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, their two sons, Matthew and Luke, and her six siblings. She remains nominated for an Actor Award, formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards, for her role in The Studio, with the ceremony scheduled for March.
