Award-winning actress Catherine O’Hara passed away from a pulmonary embolism, as revealed by her death certificate.
O’Hara’s life ended on January 30 in a Santa Monica hospital at the age of 71. The death certificate indicated that, in addition to the blood clot in her lungs, rectal cancer served as the long-term cause of her passing. Reports confirm that she had been undergoing treatment for the cancer since March 2025.
In the wake of her death, heartfelt tributes have emerged for the beloved actress, who recently captivated audiences in the Emmy-winning comedy “The Studio” and HBO’s “The Last of Us.”
Actor and “The Studio” creator Seth Rogan expressed his devastation over O’Hara’s passing, describing her as “hysterical, kind, intuitive, and generous.” He remarked, “We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.”
Pedro Pascal, who collaborated with O’Hara on “The Last of Us,” shared his sentiments on Instagram, stating, “Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world; this lucky world that had you will keep you, always.”
O’Hara earned acclaim for her role in six seasons of the comedy series “Schitt’s Creek,” for which she received an Emmy for Best Comedy Actress.
Show creator and co-star Eugene Levy reflected on their long-standing relationship, telling People magazine, “I have had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O’Hara for over fifty years.” He added, “Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today.”
Co-creator Dan Levy, who portrayed O’Hara’s son David, described her as “family before she ever played my family.” He expressed on Instagram his desire to “cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her.”
Macaulay Culkin, O’Hara’s on-screen son in the holiday classics “Home Alone” and “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York,” also shared an emotional tribute on Instagram. He 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.”
O’Hara leaves behind her husband, Bo Welch, her sons Matthew and Luke, and her six siblings.
A pulmonary embolism, as defined by the NHS, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a blood vessel in the lungs becomes blocked by a blood clot. Symptoms may include sudden difficulty breathing, chest pain that intensifies with breathing, and coughing up blood.
