Catherine O’Hara, Beloved Emmy-Winning Comedian from ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and ‘Beetlejuice,’ Passes Away at 71
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Catherine O’Hara, renowned Canadian comic actor and former SCTV cast member, passed away on January 30. She was best known for her role as Macaulay Culkin’s stressed mother in the Home Alone films and for portraying the whimsically dramatic Moira Rose on the Emmy-winning series Schitt’s Creek.
According to a statement from her agency, CAA, O’Hara died at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness. Details surrounding her passing have not been disclosed.
O’Hara’s career began in the 1970s at the Second City in Toronto, where she first collaborated with Eugene Levy, her longtime friend and Schitt’s Creek co-star. This partnership flourished as they both became part of the original cast of the influential sketch show SCTV, which also featured notable comedians such as Martin Short, John Candy, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, and Joe Flaherty.
Her role in Schitt’s Creek marked a career pinnacle, showcasing her unique comedic talents. The show, created by Levy and his son Dan, followed a wealthy family forced to relocate to a small town and achieved significant acclaim, particularly during its sixth and final season, earning O’Hara a new generation of fans and cultural prominence.
The success of Schitt’s Creek led to a resurgence in her career, with notable performances in HBO’s The Last of Us and a straight-laced role as a Hollywood producer in The Studio, both of which garnered her Emmy nominations.
O’Hara was also celebrated for her roles in iconic films such as Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, A Mighty Wind, and Best in Show.
She is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and her two sons, Matthew and Luke.
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