Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy-winning Canadian performer celebrated for scene-stealing comedy and sharp character work, has died at 71. Multiple outlets report she passed away at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, according to her representatives at Creative Artists Agency, though no specific cause of death has been publicly shared. TMZ was among the first to report the news, and People also confirmed it through her representation.
Over a career spanning decades, O’Hara became a comedy institution—first rising through Toronto’s improv scene at The Second City and later becoming a defining talent on SCTV, where her characters and impressions helped shape modern sketch comedy. She went on to build an iconic film résumé, including her beloved role as Kevin’s mom in Home Alone, and later captivated a new generation as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek alongside longtime collaborator Eugene Levy. She was married to production designer Bo Welch and is survived by their two sons, per reports.
