Catherine O’Hara of ‘Home Alone,’ ‘Best in Show’ and ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Fame Dies at 71

Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71, per Variety. The actress died on Friday at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, according to the outlet.

O’Hara led a decades-long career, appearing in films like “Home Alone” and “Best in Show,” along with TV series like “Schitt’s Creek” and “The Studio,” among others.

The actress’ career began with the Canadian sketch comedy series “Second City Television.” Her work on “SCTV Network” earned the actress her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program.

She went on to win her second Emmy in 2020 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Moira Rose in the comedy series “Schitt’s Creek.” O’Hara had recently been nominated for an Emmy Award for her work in “The Studio.”

Along with her work in television, O’Hara was a star of such films as 1988’s “Beetlejuice” and 1990’s holiday classic “Home Alone,” costarring Macaulay Culkin. O’Hara was on hand to speak at Culkin’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in 2023.

In 2024, O’Hara reprised her role of Delia for the “Beetlejuice” sequel — “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” — reuniting with filmmaker Tim Burton and costars Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton. The actress was set to return to the second season of “The Studio” as Patty Leigh, costarring Seth Rogen.

O’Hara was a frequent collaborator of Burton and filmmaker and actor Christopher Guest. She also worked with “Schitt’s Creek” costar Eugene Levy dating back to early 1980s with “SCTV” and 2000’s “Best in Show,” among other projects.

Speaking with WWD in April 2021, O’Hara reflected on the popularity and audience’s embrace of “Schitt’s Creek,” saying, “While the last several years have brought about and highlighted so many reasons to be afraid, along with way too much fear-mongering, our little show has brought [the audience] comfort, hope and laughs and that was our original intention. [The show] is funny and sweet and it’s written from a place of love and written about a world that Daniel Levy wants to live in and so do I.”