Catherine O'Hara, who starred in Home Alone and Schitt's Creek, has died

Catherine O'Hara, the Emmy-winning actor who starred as Kevin's beleaguered mother in Home Alone and the eccentric Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek, has died.

The Canadian-American comedy star, who won her second career Emmy, for Lead Actress, in Schitt's Creek in 2020, was 71.

She died on Friday at her home in Los Angeles "following a brief illness," her agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), said in a statement. No further details were available.

In an entertainment career spanning more than 50 years, she also appeared in several hit comedy movies, including Beetlejuice and its sequel, and gave a memorable turn as Kate McCallister, Macaulay Culkin's stressed mother in the first two Home Alone films.

Culkin, who starred as the youngster accidentally left at home when his family leaves for a Christmas holiday in the 1990 classic, posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, calling her "Mama" and saying he thought they "had time".

The pair reprised their roles in the 1992 sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost In New York.

Meryl Streep, who co-starred with O'Hara in the 1986 comedy drama, Heartburn, said in a statement that O'Hara "brought love and light to our world, through whipsmart compassion for the collection of eccentrics she portrayed".

O'Hara frequently collaborated with mockumentary pioneer Christopher Guest, becoming a key player in his ensemble and starring in Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind.

Her popularity surged after the success of Schitt's Creek, which dominated the 2021 Emmys following its sixth and final season, bringing O'Hara a new generation of fans.

She enjoyed a late career renaissance that led to a serious role in HBO's post-apocalypse drama, The Last Of Us, for which she was nominated for an Emmy.

Pedro Pascal, her costar, said on Instagram: "There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you".

She was also nominated for an Emmy for her performance as Hollywood producer Patty Leigh in the Seth Rogen Hollywood satire, The Studio, which also earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

O'Hara's career was launched at the Second City Theatre in Toronto, where she was born, in the 1970s.

It was there that she first worked with Eugene Levy, who would become a lifelong collaborator - and her Schitt's Creek costar.

While at Second City, she helped create the sketch comedy show SCTV - in which both she and Levy appeared - and which helped launch the careers of other top Canadian comedians, including John Candy, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis and Martin Short.

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She is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and sons Matthew and Luke and her family will hold a private celebration of her life, the CAA statement said.

(c) Sky News 2026: Catherine O'Hara, who starred in Home Alone and Schitt's Creek, has died