Catherine O'Hara, Beloved Comedy Star, Dies at 71 in Los Angeles
The entertainment world is in mourning following the death of acclaimed actress Catherine O'Hara, who passed away on Friday at the age of 71. The Schitt's Creek and Home Alone star was found in her Brentwood, Los Angeles home experiencing difficulty breathing, prompting a 911 call in the early hours of the morning.
Emergency Response and Hospitalisation
According to Los Angeles Fire Department records, paramedics responded to a medical aid request at 4:48 am and transported a woman in her seventies in serious condition to hospital. O'Hara was declared dead within hours of the emergency call, though official authorities have not yet disclosed the precise cause of death to the public. The actress had shown no public indications of serious illness prior to her passing, though observers noted she appeared fragile during her last red carpet appearance at the Emmy Awards in September.
Chilling Contrast with Her 2013 Death Wish
In a poignant twist, a resurfaced 2013 Vanity Fair interview reveals O'Hara had envisioned a dramatically different scenario for her final moments. When completing the publication's renowned Proust questionnaire, the actress expressed her hope to die "laughing, surrounded by my old grandchildren, who are telling me to 'let go, already, Grandma!'" This playful yet profound reflection stands in stark contrast to the medical emergency that ultimately claimed her life.
In that same interview, when asked to identify "the greatest love of your life," O'Hara simply answered: "My family." She leaves behind her husband of nearly 34 years, production designer Bo Welch, whom she met while working on the 1988 classic Beetlejuice. The couple had two sons, Matthew, 31, and Luke, 28, both of whom work in the entertainment industry. She is also survived by multiple siblings.
Career Legacy and Celebrity Tributes
O'Hara's death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across Hollywood. Macaulay Culkin, whose mother she portrayed in Home Alone, and Brooke Shields, whom she famously impersonated on her breakthrough sketch programme SCTV during the 1970s, were among those expressing their grief. Her colleagues from recent projects including The Studio co-star Seth Rogen and Schitt's Creek creator Dan Levy also paid their respects.
Perhaps most poignant was the reaction from director Martin Scorsese, who worked with O'Hara on the 1985 comedy After Hours. His daughter Francesca shared a screenshot on social media showing her father looking devastated upon hearing the news during a FaceTime call.
Rare Medical Condition and Personal Philosophy
Throughout her life, O'Hara was known to have lived with a rare medical condition called situs inversus, where organs in the chest and abdomen are positioned opposite to their typical anatomical locations. Medical professionals discovered her heart was located on the right side of her body during routine tests.
In a 2021 interview, she addressed her condition with characteristic humour: "I'm a freak, yeah!" She added: "I love Western medicine but I just don't want to be a part of it. I don't even know the name because I don't want to know the name." This philosophical approach to her health reflected her unique perspective on life and mortality.
Recent Professional Activities
O'Hara remained professionally active until recently, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress on television for her role in The Studio, a showbiz satire starring and co-created by Seth Rogen. She was notably absent from the Golden Globes ceremony on January 11, just under three weeks before her death.
The actress's passing marks the end of a remarkable career spanning decades, from her early work on SCTV to iconic film roles and her Emmy-winning performance as Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek. Her unique blend of sharp comedy timing and heartfelt humanity made her one of the most beloved figures in contemporary entertainment.
