Catherine O’Hara, the beloved Canadian-American actress, comedian, and comedy icon, has died at 71. Her manager confirmed to People that O’Hara passed away on Friday, January 30. A cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born in Toronto in 1954, O’Hara’s first run-in with performing came early–she once portrayed the Virgin Mary in a Nativity play. After high school, she took a job waitressing at Toronto’s Second City Theatre, where she eventually joined the legendary comedy troupe in 1974.
Though initially terrified of the stage, O’Hara later told The New Yorker that she leaned into fear with humor, saying “When in doubt, play insane.”
Her career soon took off.
In the late ’70s and ’80s, she became a standout on Second City Television (SCTV), earning acclaim for her original characters and celebrity impressions. She went on to build an iconic film and television career, starring in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, Best in Show, and Schitt’s Creek.
For her role as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award, cementing her legacy as one of comedy’s most singular talents.
The news resonates deeply in NYC, where Home Alone 2: Lost in New York remains a beloved holiday tradition–and O’Hara’s performance is inseparable from the city’s cinematic lore.
O’Hara is survived by her husband and their children.