{"id":417013,"date":"2026-02-10T00:14:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T00:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/417013\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T00:14:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T00:14:10","slug":"catherine-oharas-cause-of-death-revealed-after-beloved-actress-died-aged-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/417013\/","title":{"rendered":"Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death revealed after beloved actress died aged 71"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"ITALY-CINEMA-VENICE-FILM-FESTIVAL-MOSTRA\"
\n\t\tLegendary actress Catherine O\u2019Hara died in January (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Catherine O\u2019Hara<\/a>\u2019s cause of death has been confirmed after the Hollywood star died on January 30<\/a>.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Hara, known for her roles in Schitt\u2019s Creek<\/a> and the two Home Alone movies, was 71 years old, her death sending shock and devastation through the industry and her adoring fanbase.<\/p>\n

She made her final public appearance at the 2025 Emmys<\/a> in September, where she walked the red carpet with a smile.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Hara\u2019s most recent work saw her star opposite\u00a0Seth Rogen<\/a>\u00a0in the hit\u00a0Apple TV<\/a>+ series The Studio<\/a>, for which she also earned an\u00a0Emmy<\/a>\u00a0nomination. <\/p>\n

Now, it has been revealed that she died from a blood clot in the lungs, as stated in her death certificate, obtained by TMZ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles<\/a> County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office lists her immediate cause of death as pulmonary embolism (a sudden blockage in a lung artery), with rectal cancer as the underlying cause.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Mandatory
\n\t\tO\u2019Hara looked in good spirits for what would be her final public appearance on September 15, 2025, at the Emmys (Picture: David Fisher\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

She was cremated.<\/p>\n

On the day that her death was announced, a spokesperson for the Beetlejuice star confirmed to Metro that she died at her home in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Without divulging further details, they said she had endured a \u2018brief illness\u2019, with a private celebration of her life to follow for her family.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Hara is survived by her husband, American production designer Bo Welch, 74, whom she married in 1992, and their two adult children, Luke and Matthew Welch.<\/p>\n

The Toronto-born performer was also one of seven children, leaving behind siblings Michael, Mary Margaret, Maureen, Marcus, Tom, and Patricia.<\/p>\n

As a testament to how revered she was, A-listers soon flooded the internet with heartfelt tributes upon learning that O\u2019Hara had died.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"2020
\n\t\tThe beloved star died from a blood clot in her lungs (Picture: Amy Sussman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"For
\n\t\tO\u2019Hara played Moira Rose in Schitt\u2019s Creek, starring alongside Annie Murphy and Dan and Eugene Levy (Picture: Comedy Central\/THA\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

Among them were emotional words from child star Macaulay Culkin<\/a>, who rose to fame in Home Alone (1990) and its Lost in New York sequel (1992).<\/p>\n

O\u2019Hara played his on-screen mother, Kate<\/a>, and they maintained a close bond into his adult life, as she spoke proudly at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2023 and declared, \u2018I\u2019m so proud of you.\u2019<\/p>\n

Taking to Instagram<\/a> swiftly after the news of O\u2019Hara\u2019s death broke, Culkin, now 45, wrote: \u2018Mama. 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.\u2019<\/p>\n

Both Dan Levy and his father, Eugene, also expressed their sadness<\/a>, with Dan, who played David Rose, her on-screen son, in Schitt\u2019s Creek, calling it \u2018a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O\u2019Hara\u2019s brilliance for all those years\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family,\u2019 he added in a social media post. \u2018It\u2019s hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her.\u2019<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Eugene, who played the Moira Rose actress\u2019 husband, Johnny, said in a statement: \u2018Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"BEVERLY
\n\t\tSeth Rogen paid tribute to O\u2019Hara as he accepted an award for The Studio, her final project, over the weekend (Picture: Kevin Winter\/Getty Images for DGA)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tFans and co-stars were heartbroken to learn of the Golden Globe winner\u2019s death (Picture: Amy Sussman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u2018I had the honour of knowing and working with the great Catherine O\u2019Hara for over 50 years\u2026 I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship. And I will miss her.\u2019<\/p>\n

Schitt\u2019s Creek ran for six seasons from 2015 to 2020 and also starred Annie Murphy, Emily Hampshire, and Noah Reid.<\/p>\n

On Saturday evening at the\u00a02026 Directors Guild of America Awards, The Studio co-star Rogen spoke publicly about working with O\u2019Hara as he accepted the outstanding directorial achievement in a comedy series trophy.<\/p>\n

\u2018Honestly, there\u2019s no one we wish we could thank in person at this moment more than we would love to thank Catherine O\u2019Hara,\u2019 Rogen said, standing beside Evan Goldberg.<\/p>\n

\u2018We grew up in\u00a0Canada, and she is and was quite literally our idol since we were children,\u2019 Goldberg added.<\/p>\n

Comedian Rogen, 43, recalled how she was both an \u2018utter genius\u2019 and still \u2018the nicest person in the entire world\u2019.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Editorial
\n\t\tO\u2019Hara played Kevin\u2019s mother in both Home Alone movies (Picture: Moviestore\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"HOLLYWOOD,
\n\t\tIn a heartfelt tribute after her death, former child star Macaulay Culkin called her \u2018Mama\u2019 (Picture: Amy Sussman\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u2018It was an honour to get to direct her every day, and we worked very hard to make the show good enough to warrant her time and her presence.\u2019<\/p>\n

O\u2019Hara played Patty Leigh in the award-winning comedy series. She was the former studio head and Matt\u2019s (Rogen) mentor.<\/p>\n

Other hugely popular roles she is remembered for include the 1986 comedy Heartburn, with co-star Meryl Streep<\/a> saying after O\u2019Hara\u2019s death that she \u2018brought love and light to our world through whipsmart compassion for the collection of eccentrics she portrayed\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018Such a loss for her family and friends and the audience she graced as friends,\u2019 added the Mamma Mia! icon.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, having starred in the second season of The Last Of Us, O\u2019Hara was honoured by Pedro Pascal<\/a>, who wrote: \u2018Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always.\u2019<\/p>\n

With a career spanning five decades, O\u2019Hara had a lengthy list of TV and film credits.<\/p>\n

These included reprising Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, having starred in the first film in 1988, 2000\u2019s Best in Show, and 2003\u2019s A Mighty Wind.<\/p>\n

Highly decorated, she had two Emmys to her name, two\u00a0Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe, among numerous other accolades.<\/p>\n

Got a story?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n

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