Catherine O'Hara, best known for her roles in Home Alone and Beetlejuice, never completed her final role before her death at age 71 on 30 January. The actress was scheduled to begin filming for the second series of Apple TV's The Studio in mid-January but was unable to due to 'personal matters'.
A source told The Sun that production on series two began last week, and O'Hara was expected to appear in early scenes. However, the schedule was reworked to focus on scenes without her character. It is understood she never filmed anything for the new series.
O'Hara's death was described as a 'shock to everyone' by the source, who called her the 'most beloved person on set'. Her cause of death was given as a 'brief illness'. She is survived by her husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke.
The actress earned critical acclaim for her role as Patty Leigh in The Studio, receiving Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Her last public appearance was at the Emmy Awards in September 2025. She was also nominated for a SAG Award, with the winner to be announced on 1 March.
Tributes poured in from co-stars including Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in Home Alone, and Michael Keaton, her co-star in Beetlejuice. Keaton said: 'This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her.'
