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Catherine O'Hara's cause of death confirmed
Catherine O'Hara's cause of death has been disclosed.
The celebrated actress, known for her iconic roles in Home Alone and Schitt's Creek, passed away at the age of 71 on January 30.
Her death has been confirmed to have been caused by a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer listed as the underlying condition.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed these details in a death certificate obtained by PEOPLE on February 9. The document also revealed that O'Hara had been cremated following her passing.
Macaulay Culkin Shares Heartfelt Tribute
Macaulay Culkin, who starred alongside O'Hara in the Home Alone films, shared an emotional tribute to the actress on Instagram.
Reflecting on their onscreen mother-son bond, he wrote, “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.”
He included side-by-side images from their time together in the movie and a more recent photo of the two taken in 2023.
The Home Alone Legacy and Last Public Moment
O'Hara's portrayal of Kate McCallister in Home Alone and its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, remains a cherished part of holiday traditions.
Her character's frantic yet loving pursuit of her son Kevin became one of the film's most memorable elements.
The two actors shared one of their last public moments in December 2023, when O'Hara introduced Culkin at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
During her speech, she praised his natural talent and humor, joking about her character's role in the Home Alone films: “Thank you for including me, your fake mom who left you home alone not once, but twice, to share in this happy occasion. I'm so proud of you."
O'Hara's Stellar Career
While the late actress will always be remembered for her role in the beloved Christmas classic, her career spanned numerous successful projects.
She won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek, and her work in Christopher Guest's mockumentaries - Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), and A Mighty Wind (2003) - earned her critical acclaim.
She also appeared in the Apple TV+ series The Studio and lent her voice to animated films like Frankenweenie, The Addams Family, and Elemental. In 2024, O'Hara was also seen in Argylle and in season 2 of The Last of Us.
O'Hara’s death has sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment community, with co-stars and colleagues sharing their grief.
Joe Pesci, who starred alongside her in Home Alone, expressed his condolences, saying, “She was a great actress, and she will be missed. God bless, rest in peace.”
Seth Rogen also paid tribute while accepting the trophy for Best Comedy Series Director at the DGA Awards on Saturday (February 7).
“Honestly, there’s no one we wish we could thank in person at this moment more than we would love to thank Catherine O’Hara,” Rogen, 43, said, per US Weekly.
Rogen said Home Alone was "the movie that made me want to make movies in a lot of ways," adding: "In that movie, she’s always yelling ‘Kevin! Kevin!’ and on set we would be yelling ‘Evan! Evan!’ Every time she did, we were like, ‘It’s like, Home Alone.’”
Meryl Streep, who appeared alongside O'Hara in the 1980s comedy Heartburn, described her death as "such a loss for her family and friends, and the audience she graced as friends," while Pedro Pascal said "there is less light in my world" adding: "This lucky world that had you will keep you, always," cited by BBC News.
O'Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.
Our thoughts continue to be with her loved ones.