Legendary actress Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Schitt’s Creek) has passed away at the age of 71. Deadline reports that the star’s death was at home, and that it came after “a brief illness.” O’Hara won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role in Schitt’s Creek.
The actress’ work has been a part of so many movie fans’ lives that many social media users immediately flooded the internet with an outpouring of love for the late star. “My heart is broken,” one user commented on Brit + Co’s Instagram tribute, while another said, “Literally the worst news” and a third added, “One of the best ❤️.”
Keep reading to see the tributes in honor of Catherine O’Hara, who passed away on January 30, 2026.
Macaulay Culkin’s (who starred with Catherine O’Hara in the Home Alone franchise) tribute for his onscreen mom is arguably the most emotional response.
“Mama. I thought we had time,” he says in the post. “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.”
Home Alone director Chris Columbus told THR, “Today we lost Catherine O’Hara. I’m stunned and heartbroken, along with the rest of the world. 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. Yet there is a small sense of comfort, realizing that two of the finest human beings I’ve ever known, Catherine and John Candy, are together again, brilliantly improvising, making each other laugh.”
Pedro Pascal also honored the late actress, who appeared on the second season of his HBO Max show The Last of Us.
“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful,” he says. “There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always ♥️ The one and ONLY #CatherineOHara.”
TLOU creator Craig Mazin wrote, “I think she would prefer that we keep laughing somehow, or at the very least not cry. Not possible at the moment. As brutal as this feels for anyone who knew or worked with her, I know it is far more painful for her husband and sons and close family. I’m thinking about them right now too. It all hurts terribly. Goodbye, you legend… you wonderful, brilliant, kind, beautiful human being. We were lucky to have had you at all.”
“We go back before the first Beetlejuice,” Micheal Keaton says in his post. “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.”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice actor Justin Theroux also shared a tribute of Catherine’s actor’s chair and a sweet dog, writing, “🕊️Oh Catherine. You will be so so missed.”
Which role of Catherine O’Hara’s most impacted you? Let us know on Facebook. We’re sending our love and best wishes to Catherine’s friends and family.