- Catherine O’Hara, star of “Home Alone” and “Schitt’s Creek,” died in Los Angeles on January 30 following a “short illness.”
- She had been hospitalized early that morning, a short time before her death.
- In 2020, O’Hara mentioned in an interview that she had been diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called dextrocardia with sinus inversus.
Actress Catherine O’Hara, best-known for starring in films like “Home Alone,” “Beetlejuice,” and the hit show “Schitt’s Creek”, died on January 30 following a “brief illness,” according to multiple media reports citing her agency CAA. O’Hara was 71.
According to E! News, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed in a press release that O’Hara had been transported to the hospital in “serious condition” early that morning. The exact details surrounding her death are still unavailable as of February 2.
The Emmy Award-winning actress is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their two children, Luke and Matthew.
O’Hara had been noticeably absent from the Golden Globes earlier in January, despite having been nominated for a Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series award. She did not comment on her absence from the ceremony, but she was candid about her health previously, including opening up about her diagnosis with a rare genetic condition, dextrocardia with sinus inversus.
In a 2020 interview with Kathryn Hall’s Virtual Happy Hour, O’Hara revealed she had a rare genetic condition.
This condition, known as dextrocardia with situs inversus, is characterized by an abnormal position of the heart. This positioning includes the tip (apex) of the heart being positioned to the right side of the chest instead of the left. Also, the chambers of the heart are mirrored. It may also include the reversal of organs, such as the liver and the spleen.
This condition affects only about 1 in every 10,000 individuals. The exact cause is still unknown.
O’Hara learned about this condition during an electrocardiography test and an X-ray exam during a doctor’s visit many years prior. She stated in an interview that she chose to learn as little as possible about her condition.
“I love Western medicine. I just don’t want to be part of it,” she quipped.
O’Hara’s costars and friends paid tribute to her following the announcement of her death.
Macaulay Culkin, her Home Alone son, wrote a heartbreaking tribute in a social media post: “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.”
“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. 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. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and every member of her big, beautiful family.”
Michael Keaton, actor and O’Hara’s costar in “Beetlejuice,” also wrote a tribute:
“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.”
