Catherine O’Hara, the Canadian-born actress and comedian whose career ranged from exuberant studio comedy to sharply observed character work, and who was best known for films such as Beetlejuice and Home Alone, a series of acclaimed mockumentaries made with Christopher Guest, and her Emmy-winning role as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, has died. She was 71.
Her death was confirmed on Friday, January 30, 2026, in an obituary published by The Washington Post. The cause of death was not disclosed. O’Hara was widely celebrated for her character work and improvisational precision, becoming one of the defining comedic performers of her generation. Her influence stretched from Canadian sketch television to globally recognized film roles and, later, the streaming-era comedy boom.
She first gained major attention as part of the ensemble behind the groundbreaking sketch series SCTV, where her performances helped shape the show’s distinctive comedic voice and made her a standout figure in North American comedy.
In film, O’Hara became broadly known through roles in Beetlejuice and Home Alone, the latter cementing her place in popular culture as the frantic mother at the center of one of the most enduring holiday films of its era.
She later built a celebrated body of work with director Christopher Guest in ensemble comedies including Best in Show and A Mighty Wind, projects closely associated with her reputation as an elite improvisational performer.
O’Hara’s most widely acclaimed late-career role came as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, a performance that earned her an Emmy and introduced her to a new generation of viewers.
