Home Alone legend Catherine O'Hara dead at 71
The TV and film star starred in Home Alone, Schitt's Creek, Beetlejuice and the Nightmare Before Christmas
Catherine O'Hara in 2019.
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Alamy
Macaulay Culkin has paid a heartfelt tribute to Home Alone and Schitt's Creek star Catherine O'Hara following her death at the age of 71. O'Hara, who played Kevin McCallister's mother Kate in the Home Alone film series, passed away on Friday following a 'following a brief illness," her agency said.The TV and film legend also starred in Schitt's Creek, Beetlejuice and the Nightmare Before Christmas.Paying tribute to his on-screen mother, Macalay Mulkin, who played Kevin in Home Alone, said: "Mama. 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'll see you later."Read more: Queen and Rivals stars among guests at memorial service celebrating Jilly Cooper’s lifeRead more: Full Beckham timeline as Rebecca Loos supports Brooklyn
Home Alone, 1990.
Picture:
Alamy
Born in Canada, in March 1954, O'Hara started her career in sketch and improv comedy.She shot to global stardom after starring alongside Macaulay Culkin in the first two Home Alone films, as well as appearing in all 80 Schitt’s Creek episodes, playing the part of Moira Rose.She skipped the Golden Globes awards earlier this month after receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Female Actor for her role in the Apple+ series, The Studio.Her nomination was announced in December, but it wasn’t clear why she didn’t attend the ceremony.She was last seen publicly in September 2025, posing on the red carpet with her husband, Bo Welch, at an Emmys bash.The star also received two Primetime Emmy Awards for Canadian television sketch comedy, plus a Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Schitt's Creek.
Catherine O'Hara in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Picture:
Alamy
O’Hara skipped the Golden Globes awards earlier this month after receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Female Actor for her role in the Apple+ series, The Studio.Her nomination was announced in December, but it wasn’t clear why she didn’t attend the ceremony.She was last seen publicly in September 2025, posing on the red carpet with her husband, Bo Welch, at an Emmys bash.The star also received two Primetime Emmy Awards for Canadian television sketch comedy, plus a Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Schitt's Creek.
Annie Murphy and Catherine O'Hara in Schitt's Creek.
Picture:
Alamy
Actor Macaulay Culkin was also among those remembering the actress, who starred as his mother in Home Alone.In an Instagram post, Culkin said: "Mama. 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'll see you later."O'Hara played Culkin's mother Kate in the 1990 classic Christmas movie Home Alone, in which he starred as youngster Kevin McCallister, who outsmarts two bumbling intruders after his family accidentally go on holiday without him.Culkin reprised the role in 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, with O'Hara also starring again.She also starred in the second season of The Last Of Us, alongside Pedro Pascal, who paid tribute to her in an Instagram post, saying: "Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always."Another recent role saw her starring in the Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio as Patty Leigh, for which she received both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.O'Hara is survived by her husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke, the statement said, and her family will hold a private celebration of her life.
