{"id":443850,"date":"2026-01-30T21:57:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T21:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/443850\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T21:57:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T21:57:10","slug":"catherine-ohara-canadian-actor-and-schitts-creek-star-dead-at-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/443850\/","title":{"rendered":"Catherine O\u2019Hara, Canadian actor and \u2018Schitt\u2019s Creek\u2019 star, dead at 71"},"content":{"rendered":"

Catherine O\u2019Hara<\/a>, Canadian comedic actor and star of Schitt\u2019s Creek, has died, her manager confirmed to Global News.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

According to a statement from her agency, Creative Artists Agency, she passed at her home in Los Angeles \u201cfollowing a brief illness,\u201d the Associated Press reported.<\/p>\n

She was 71.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Hara was born in Toronto in 1954, the second oldest of seven siblings. After graduating from high school, she got a job as a waitress at the Second City Theater.<\/p>\n

After auditioning for the cast, then-director Joe Flaherty advised, \u201cKeep up the day job. Keep up the waitressing,\u201d according to the Second City website.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Hara eventually joined the company in 1974 and was cast in a TV show called Second City Television, where she became known for both her impressions of celebrities and original fan-favourite characters.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tActor and comedian Catherine O\u2019Hara of Toronto and Los Angeles is invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Julie Payette during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES\/Justin Tang.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tTHE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES\/Justin Tang\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

O\u2019Hara made her film debut in 1980\u2019s\u00a0Double Negative, which also featured future Schitt\u2019s Creek co-star, Eugene Levy. O\u2019Hara then took on roles in Martin Scorsese\u2019s 1985 black comedy\u00a0After Hours\u00a0and 1986\u2019s\u00a0Heartburn.<\/p>\n

In 1988, she had a role in\u00a0Beetlejuice as Delia Deetz, the stepmother of Winona Ryder\u2019s Lydia. O\u2019Hara later reprised her role in the 2024 sequel Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. She also hosted Saturday Night Live twice in 1991 and 1992 but opted to leave the show to return to Second City Television.<\/p>\n

One of her most well-known roles was in\u00a0Home Alone\u00a0and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York as the forgetful mother of Macaulay Culkin\u2019s Kevin, which has gone on to be one of the most beloved movie franchises.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"For<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGet breaking National news<\/p>\n

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.<\/p>\n

She would team up with Levy and his son Dan for Schitt\u2019s Creek\u00a0in 2015, as the show grew from only streaming in Canada to being picked up by Netflix.<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tO’Hara remembered for her ‘light’\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Reactions to O\u2019Hara\u2019s death have begun to pour in.<\/p>\n

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X<\/a> that \u201cI join Canadians and fans across the world in mourning the loss of Catherine O\u2019Hara.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOver 5 decades of work, Catherine earned her place in the canon of Canadian comedy \u2014 from the iconic Toronto production of Godspell to SCTV to Schitt\u2019s Creek. Canada has lost a legend,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy thoughts are with her family, friends, and all those who loved her work on screen. She will be dearly missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also posted<\/a> that himself and his wife Anaida \u201care deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Canadian comedic legend Catherine O\u2019Hara.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau also took to\u00a0<\/a>, calling O\u2019Hara a \u201cbeloved Canadian icon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

Canadian-American comedian Tom Green also paid tribute to O\u2019Hara in an X post, calling O\u2019Hara \u201cone of the greatest Canadian comedy icons of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m so sorry to hear the news that Canadian comedy legend Catherine O\u2019Hara has passed away at 71. She\u2019s kept me and millions of others entertained throughout my lifetime \u2014 from her brilliant work on SCTV, to Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, Schitt\u2019s Creek, and so many other\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ZRHKYRjEDS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tom Green (@tomgreenlive) January 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\tTrending Now\n\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tWhat is Nipah virus? What to know about the disease as India faces outbreak\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tTrump threatens Canada with 50% tariff on aircraft sold to U.S.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Fellow Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin posted a photo of him and O\u2019Hara from the movie to his Instagram<\/a> with the tribute: \u201cMama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pedro Pascal also posted a tribute to her on his Instagram<\/a> account, saying \u201cOh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always. The one and ONLY #CatherineOHara<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n

Actor Lily Tomlin called O\u2019Hara \u201cbright, beautiful, and full of joy that touched so many\u201d in an Instagram<\/a> post.<\/p>\n

Actor Justin Theroux also posted on his Instagram<\/a> account; \u201cOh Catherine. You will be so so missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

When O\u2019Hara was awarded the Order of Canada<\/a> in in 2017, she was highlighted as a \u201ccultural trailblazer\u201d whose \u201cinternational success has inspired many artists and helped pave the way for the next generation of women in comedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tActors Annie Murphy, from left, Catherine O\u2019Hara and Jennifer Robertson attend the 11th Annual New York Television Festival \u201cSchitt\u2019s Creek\u201d screening at the SVA Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini\/Invision\/AP).\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Evan Agostini\/Invision\/AP)\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tDan Levy, from left, Catherine O\u2019Hara, Annie Murphy and Eugene Levy participate in the Pop TV \u201cSchitt\u2019s Creek,\u201d panel during the Winter 2020 Television Critics Association Press Tour, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. The CBC series \u201cSchitt\u2019s Creek\u201d and \u201cAnne with an E\u201d were the top winners at the ACTRA Awards in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/ AP-Photo by Richard Shotwell\/Invision\/AP\u00a0.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tTHE CANADIAN PRESS\/ AP-Photo by Richard Shotwell\/Invision\/AP\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.\t<\/p>\n