‘Beetlejuice,’ ‘Home Alone’ actress Catherine O’Hara dies at 71
Catherine O'Hara FILE PHOTO: Catherine O'Hara attends the World Premiere of Apple TV+'s Series "The Studio" at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on March 24, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Catherine O’Hara, known for such memorable roles in “Beetlejuice,” “Home Alone” and “Schitt’s Creek,” has died at the age of 71.
TMZ was the first to report her death, saying she passed away on Jan. 30. The cause of death was not released.
Variety said her death was confirmed by her manager.
Her agency, Creative Artists Agency, said she died at home in Los Angeles “following a brief illness,” but did not say what it was, The Associated Press reported.
She played Macaulay Culkin’s mother in the first “Home Alone” film and its sequel, as well as Delia in “Beetlejuice” and the follow-up “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and provided the voice of both Sally and Shock in Tim Burton’s stop motion animated film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
She had performed as both characters from the Halloween/Christmas film live at the Hollywood Bowl several times.
O’Hara was born in Toronto, Canada and was the sixth of seven children, TMZ reported. She got her start at the Second City in Toronto in the 1970s, where she first met her frequent costar Eugene Levy.
She was an Emmy-award winner with her first honor being for writing in 1982 for “SCTV Network 90. She also won one for her role as Moira Rose in ”Schitt’s Creek" opposite Levy and was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her appearance in “The Last of Us,” opposite Pedro Pascal, as well as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series" for “The Studio,” both in the same year, showing her range from drama to comedy.
She left behind her husband, Bo Welch, whom she met on the set of “Beetlejuice,” and their two sons, Page 6 reported.
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Remembering Catherine O'Hara SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Season 6 -- Pictured: Catherine O'Hara -- (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara CANADA - SEPTEMBER 20 1989: Comedy kings: Actor Eugene Levy (left) hams for the camera with actress Catherine O'Hara (right); who was accompanied by her beau; Bo Welch; at post-performance Phantom party in Casa Loma last night. (Photo by Patti Gower/Toronto Star via Getty Images) (Patti Gower/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara Pasadena, CA - 1982: (L-R) Milton Berle, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, SCTV crew and cast appearing at the 34th Primetime Emmy Awards, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, CA, September 19, 1982. (Photo by George Long /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara 1999: Harold Ramis, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Conan O'Brien & Martin Short (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara 2000: Eugene Levy, left, and Catherine O'Hara star in Castle Rock Entertainment's film, "Best In Show." (Photo by Wren Maloney/Online USA) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: Catherine O'Hara, recipient of the "Best Supporting Actress" award "For Your Consideration" speaks onstage at the 2006 National Board Of Review Awards Presented by BVLGARI at Cipriani 42nd Street January 9, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images for The National Board of Review) (Evan Agostini)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara SANTA MONICA, CA - JANUARY 12: Actresses Dame Helen Mirren (L) and Catherine O'Hara attend the Lexus Critic's Choice Awards after party at the Viceroy Hotel on January 12, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara CHICAGO - DECEMBER 12: Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara attend a SCTV panel discussion in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Second City at 1616 N. Wells Avenue on December 12, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Second City) (Tasos Katopodis)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: Actress Catherine O'Hara speaks during the Closing Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at BC Place on February 28, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 10: Filmmaker Tim Burton and actress Catherine O'Hara pose at the 'Frankenweenie 3D' photocall at the Corinthia Hotel London which, later tonight, opens the 56th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 10, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 31: (L-R) Director Tim Burton, actress Catherine O'Hara and composer Danny Elfman attend Danny Elfman's Music from the films of Tim Burton at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on October 31, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara SANTA MONICA, CA - FEBRUARY 23: (L-R) Honoree Martin Short, presenters Catherine O'Hara, and Chris Pine attend the 12th Annual US-Ireland Aliiance's Oscar Wilde Awards event at Bad Robot on February 23, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for US-Ireland Alliance ) (Alberto E. Rodriguez)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 19: (L-R) Actors Dan Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Annie Murphy and Eugene Levy speak onstage during the 'Schitt's Creek' panel, part of Vulture Festival LA presented by AT&T at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on November 19, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Vulture Festival) (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Vulture Festiva)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 17: Catherine O'Hara attends the Vulture Festival Los Angeles 2018 at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on November 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images) (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: Catherine O'Hara speaks onstage at the 18th Annual AARP The Magazine's Movies For Grownups Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on February 04, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Catherine O'Hara presents an award onstage during the 2019 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Catherine O'Hara attends Hammer Museum's 17th Annual Gala In The Garden on October 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Hammer Museum ) (Presley Ann/Getty Images for Hammer Museum)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 13: Catherine O'Hara of "Schitt's Creek" speaks during the Pop TV segment of the 2020 Winter TCA Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 13, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: (L-R) Catherine O'Hara and Macaulay Culkin attend the ceremony honoring Macaulay Culkin with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Catherine O'Hara speaks onstage during the ceremony honoring Macaulay Culkin with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 01, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: (L-R) Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy and Sarah Levy attend the ceremony honoring Eugene Levy with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 08, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: (L-R) Michael Keaton and Catherine O'Hara speak onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 09: (L-R) Tim Burton and Catherine O'Hara speak onstage during Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Big Picture," a special presentation of its upcoming slate during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at Caesars Palace on April 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon) (Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder and Tim Burton attend the "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" New York photo call at JW Marriott Essex House on August 17, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara VENICE, ITALY - AUGUST 28: Catherine O'Hara attends a photocall for "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at on August 28, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) (Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Catherine O’Hara attends the UK Premiere of "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" at the Cineworld Leicester Square on August 29, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: (L-R) Bo Welch and Catherine O'Hara attend the World Premiere of Apple TV+'s Series "The Studio" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on March 24, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara TORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 07: Catherine O'Hara accepts the TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award onstage at the TIFF Tribute Awards during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel on September 07, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Remembering Catherine O'Hara WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Catherine O'Hara attends Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy Party Red Carpet at Ysabel on September 14, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images) (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)