Catherine O'Hara dies at 71 after a brief illness

Catherine O'Hara, the Toronto-born actor known for Schitt's Creek and Home Alone, died at 71 at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness, her agency said.

Catherine O'Hara died at age 71 at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness, her agency, Creative Artists Agency, told the Associated Press. She was born in Toronto and had a long career in film and television. She became widely known for roles in Home Alone and as Moira Rose in the Canadian series Schitt's Creek. O'Hara won Emmys both as a writer for SCTV in 1982 and as lead actress in 2020. Key details: - Her death was reported by the Associated Press and attributed to a "brief illness" in a statement from Creative Artists Agency. - Career highlights include early work on the sketch show SCTV, film roles in Home Alone and Beetlejuice, frequent appearances in Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, and the role of Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek. - Awards and recent recognition cited in reports include an Emmy for writing (1982), an Emmy for lead actress (2020), recent Emmy nominations for The Studio and as a guest actress on The Last of Us, and a 2026 Golden Globe nomination for The Studio. - Public responses and tributes were posted by colleagues and public figures, including Michael Bublé, Ron Howard, Tom Green, Macaulay Culkin, Pedro Pascal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others. Summary: Her passing prompted widespread public tributes and reflections on a long and varied career in comedy and film. Undetermined at this time.