The world of cinema lost the legendary and beloved Canadian actress this Friday morning, January 30, 2026, Catherine O’Haraat 71 years of age.
The sad news was confirmed by the actress' representative. There are no more official details at the moment.
O'Hara leaves behind a huge, brilliant legacy that extends from film to television, and crosses genres, from comedy to horror and more.
O'Hara's career spanned five decades, and his filmography includes such great film classics as Beetlejuicewhere he shared the screen with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, with whom he reunited in the 2024 sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The scene in the first installment, where we see him dancing to the rhythm of “Banana Boat (Day-O)” by Harry Belafonte, is one of the most iconic scenes in cinema.
He also appeared in other horror projects such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Monster House, Frankenweeniey Tales From the Crypt.
Although O'Hara is perhaps best remembered by mainstream audiences for her role as Kate McAllister, the forgetful mother of Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) in the Christmas classic, Home Alone and the sequel Home Alone 2. Such was the effect of the original film, that it was not only that generation that grew up watching O'Hara in this legendary role, but many other generations that have come after.
O'Hara frequently collaborated with Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy. The latter led to a professional renaissance for the actress at age 60, when she starred alongside him in the popular and acclaimed comedy series Schitt's Creek. For this role, he won an Emmy Award in 2020, a Golden Globe in the same year, and two SAG Awards for his extraordinary work in the sitcom. His other Emmy Award was for writing the comedy series SCTV Network 90.
His most recent projects include, in addition to the aforementioned sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), the series The Last of Us from HBO, and the acclaimed The Studio from Apple TV. She is currently nominated at the SAG Awards for best actress in a comedy series and best cast for The Studio; These prizes will be awarded on Sunday, March 1.
O'Hara leaves behind her husband and production designer, Bo Welch, whom she met on the set of Beetlejuiceas well as his sons Matthew and Luke, and his sister Mary Margaret O'Hara.
With immense gratitude for being part of our childhood and our growing up, may she rest in peace, Catherine O'Hara.
Source: https://cine3.com/la-legendaria-actriz-catherine-ohara-fallece-71-anos/
