The entertainment world is mourning with new details emerging about the passing of Canadian comedy icon Catherine O'Hara. The beloved actress, known for her unforgettable roles in Schitt's Creek and classic films, died at 71 last month, and her official cause of death has now been revealed.
Medical Details of O'Hara's Passing
According to reports from TMZ, O'Hara's death certificate indicates she succumbed to a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot that travels to the lungs. The document also lists rectal cancer as an underlying contributing condition. The actress passed away in Los Angeles on January 30 after what was described as "a brief illness" in initial reports.
Emergency services responded to a call at 4:48 a.m. on the day of her death, with Los Angeles Fire Department officials confirming O'Hara was transported to hospital in serious condition due to breathing difficulties. Following her passing, she was cremated and her remains were given to her husband, production designer Bo Welch, with whom she shared two sons.
A Storied Career in Comedy
Catherine O'Hara's remarkable career spanned more than five decades, beginning with her early work at Toronto's Second City comedy troupe in the 1970s. She gained widespread recognition through her film roles in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice, Martin Scorsese's After Hours, and as Kate McCallister, the frantic mother in the first two Home Alone movies.
Her career experienced a remarkable resurgence with her portrayal of Moira Rose on the critically acclaimed Canadian series Schitt's Creek, which aired from 2015 to 2020. The role earned her two Emmy Awards and cemented her status as a comedy legend. Most recently, she appeared in the Apple TV series The Studio alongside Seth Rogen.
Final Public Appearance and Health Challenges
Those who saw O'Hara at the 2025 Angel Awards in Los Angeles last October noted she appeared noticeably frail. An attendee described her as "very slender" with an "almost gaunt" face, though they emphasized she remained "upbeat and lovely" throughout the event. The actress concealed her figure in a bulky green pinstriped suit during what would become one of her final public appearances.
In a 2020 interview, O'Hara revealed she had been diagnosed with situs inversus, a rare genetic condition where internal organs are positioned in reverse. She described herself as "a freak" but expressed reluctance to learn too much about the abnormality, preferring to maintain her normal life perspective.
Tributes from Colleagues and Leaders
The news of O'Hara's passing prompted an outpouring of grief from across the entertainment industry and political sphere. Her Beetlejuice co-star Michael Keaton wrote emotionally on Instagram, "She's been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend... Man am I gonna miss her."
Director Tim Burton called her "a special part of my life and after life," while former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described her as "a beloved Canadian icon with a rare gift for comedy and heart."
Dan Levy, who co-created Schitt's Creek with his father Eugene Levy, expressed that working with O'Hara was "a gift." Eugene Levy himself shared a heartfelt statement saying, "Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today."
CBC Television, which produced Schitt's Creek, released a statement honoring O'Hara as "a beloved Canadian icon whose brilliance lit up screens and stages around the world."
Catherine O'Hara is survived by her husband Bo Welch and their two adult sons, Matthew and Luke. Her legacy as one of Canada's most gifted comedic performers continues to resonate with audiences worldwide who cherished her unique talent and memorable characters.
