Macaulay Culkin, Seth Rogen, Justin Theroux, Pedro Pascal and Catherine O’Hara
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Condolences have been pouring in from various quarters for Hollywood star Catherine O’Hara who passed away at the age of 71 on Friday. Known for her roles in beloved movies and series like Schitt’s Creek, Beetlejuice, Home Alone 1 and 2, and The Studio, the actor died after suffering from a brief illness.
Ever since the news hit headlines, her friends, family and co-stars from the industry have penned their heartfelt condolences for the actor and reminisced their experience working with her. The first notable name who shared a tribute was her on-screen son from Home Alone Macaulay Culkin who wrote, “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you but I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.” He also shared pictures from Home Alone along with another one during Culkin’s Walk of Fame honour where the duo had an emotional reunion.
Director Chris Columbus noted that he was “stunned and heartbroken” hearing about O’Hara’s death. “I was an obsessive fan of Catherine’s brilliant comedic work on SCTV and was thrilled when she agreed to play Kevin’s mom in Home Alone. What most people don’t realize is that Catherine carries the weight of 50 percent of that film. The movie simply would not work without her extraordinary performance. Catherine grounds the picture with a profound emotional depth. I will miss her greatly,” he said.
Christopher Guest, who has collaborated with O’Hara in many mockumentaries including Best in Show, For Your Consideration and Waiting for Guffman, said he was “devastated.” “We have lost one of the comic giants of our age,” he said.
Calling her an “extended family,” Dan Levy, who played her son on the critically acclaimed series Schitt’s Creek wrote, “What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years. Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family.” He further added, “It’s hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her.” Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek director Jordan Canning, also Lily Tomlin wrote about her loss to Hollywood.
Actor-comedian Seth Rogen, who starred alongside O’Hara in the award-winning Apple TV series The Studio, said in an emotional post that he was too shocked to speak. “I told O’Hara when I first met her I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen. Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies. Getting to work with her was a true honour. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous … she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it,” he wrote. O’Hara played Patty Leigh in the series which has started shooting for a second season. Replying to Rogen’s post, director Judd Apatow wrote, “Brilliant and kind. Riotously funny for fifty years. A really special person.” Her other co-stars Ike Barinholtz, the Studio, Lionsgate Television also condoled her demise.
Legendary director Martin Scorsese also penned a note for her saying that her death “feels impossible”. For the unversed, the actor and director collaborated on the neo-noir comedy After Hours in 1984. “Many people know her from Schitt’s Creek. For many others, it’s the Home Alone pictures or Beetlejuice or the Christopher Guest comedies. For me, and for most of my friends, it’s SCTV. All I have to do is think about one of the characters she created, like Lola Heatherton or Dusty Towne, and I’m laughing. Catherine was a true comic genius, a true artist, and a wonderful human being. I was blessed to be able to work with her on After Hours, and I’m going to miss her presence and her artistry. We all are,” he said.
Catherine O’Hara found success in her second innings with roles in HBO’s The Last of Us, Seth Rogen’s The Studio, the sequel to Beetlejuice – Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and other films and series. Pedro Pascal shared a photo with O’Hara, praising her as “genius.” The duo had shared screen space in The Last of Us, a dystopian drama thriller which showcases the impact of a deadly fungus and how people survive amidst it. “There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always,” Pascal said.
Canadian PM Mark Carney and former PM Justin Trudeau also took to their X handles to mourn her demise.
From SCTV to Home Alone to her unforgettable role as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, Catherine O’Hara was a beloved Canadian icon with a rare gift for comedy and heart. She made people laugh across generations and helped bring Canadian storytelling to the world in a way only she… pic.twitter.com/tO72Xy3yqp
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 30, 2026
I join Canadians and fans across the world in mourning the loss of Catherine O’Hara.
Over 5 decades of work, Catherine earned her place in the canon of Canadian comedy — from SCTV to Schitt’s Creek.
Canada has lost a legend. My thoughts are with her family, friends, and all…
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 30, 2026
Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton wrote, “We go back before the first Beetlejuice. She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her. Thinking about Beau as well.” The film’s director Tim Burton shared a BTS picture from the sequel where he, along with O’Hara, Keaton, Jenna Ortega and Winona Ryder were seen together. “Catherine, I love you. This picture shows how much light you gave to all of us. You were a special part of my life and after life,” he wrote. Justin Theroux, her co-star from Beetlejuice, posted a photo of a chair from set with her name on it, along with the caption “Oh Catherine.”
O’Hara is survived by her husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke as well as her siblings Michael O’Hara, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Maureen Jolley, Marcus O’Hara, Tom O’Hara, and Patricia Wallice. A private celebration of life will be held by the family, said her agency.
