Catherine O’Hara died on January 30, 2026 at her home in Los Angeles following what has been officially described as a “brief illness.” Her passing was confirmed by her representatives at Creative Artists Agency and reported widely across major outlets.

According to reporting from People and other sources, emergency responders were called to her home early that morning — around 4:48 a.m. Pacific Time — because she was experiencing breathing difficulties and was in serious condition. She was transported to the hospital but did not survive. The exact cause of the illness has not been publicly disclosed.

O’Hara’s long and celebrated career spanned more than five decades. She was a key figure in comedy, first rising to fame with the sketch troupe Second City and later on SCTV, and became a household name with movie roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Christopher Guest films like Best in Show, and especially as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek — a role that earned her multiple Emmy Awards.

Tributes have poured in from fans and fellow actors around the world. Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin emotionally referred to her as his on-screen “Mama” and lamented, “I thought we had time,” highlighting the deep connection audiences felt with her work. Fellow cast members from Schitt’s Creek also shared heartfelt statements, remembering her brilliance, kindness, and the close bonds she formed over decades.