{"id":171091,"date":"2026-02-10T00:37:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T00:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/171091\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T00:37:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T00:37:06","slug":"catherine-oharas-cause-of-death-battle-with-rectal-cancer-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/171091\/","title":{"rendered":"Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death, battle with rectal cancer revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Catherine O\u2019Hara\u2018s cause of death \u2014 and a private battle with cancer \u2014 has come to light weeks after the \u201cSchitt\u2019s Creek\u201d and \u201cHome Alone\u201d star died at 71.<\/a><\/p>\n

The beloved comedian died of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs, according to her death certificate published Monday by TMZ<\/a>. The document also revealed that O\u2019Hara had rectal cancer, which was listed as an underlying condition. <\/p>\n

Emmy winner O\u2019Hara, also known for \u201cBest in Show,\u201d \u201cBeetlejuice\u201d and, recently, \u201cThe Last of Us\u201d and \u201cThe Studio,\u201d died Jan. 30. Her agency CAA confirmed at the time that the actor, celebrated for her portrayal of narcissistic former soap star Moira Rose in \u201cSchitt\u2019s Creek,\u201d died after a brief illness. The agency did not provide additional information at the time.<\/p>\n

News of O\u2019Hara\u2019s death quickly sparked tributes from her co-stars and peers, including her \u201cHome Alone\u201d son Macaulay Culkin and longtime collaborator Eugene Levy. Culkin penned a moving tribute to O\u2019Hara and posted photos of them sharing an embrace in their 1990 holiday hit and a 2023 reunion at the ceremony for Culkin\u2019s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. \u201cMama. I thought we had time,\u201d the actor said.<\/p>\n

Levy said he cherished his time working with O\u2019Hara and their years of friendship. His son, Dan Levy, who co-created and starred in \u201cSchitt\u2019s Creek,\u201d said his TV mom was extended family. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her,\u201d he wrote on Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Other stars who paid tribute to O\u2019Hara included her TV daughter, Annie Murphy, \u201cThe Studio\u201d co-star Seth Rogen, Michael Keaton and Justin Theroux. Filmmakers Chris Columbus, Tim Burton and Martin Scorsese also saluted the late star. <\/p>\n

The death certificate confirmed that the Canadian-born star was cremated. O\u2019Hara is survived by her husband, \u201cBeetlejuice\u201d production designer Bo Welch, and sons Matthew and Luke. Survivors also include siblings Michael O\u2019Hara, Mary Margaret O\u2019Hara, Maureen Jolley, Marcus O\u2018Hara, Tom O\u2019Hara and Patricia Wallace.<\/p>\n

Times staff writers Tracy Brown and Malia Mendez contributed to this report. <\/p>\n