Catherine OāHara, whose razor-sharp wit and unforgettable characters helped define generations of film and television comedy, has been laid to rest following new details about her Death.
According to Fox News, the veteran actress died from a Pulmonary embolism, with Rectal cancer listed as the underlying cause, according to a Death certificate obtained by TMZ.
The document also notes that OāHara was cremated. She was 71.
Emergency responders were called to OāHaraās Brentwood, California, home around 5 a.m. on Jan. 30, the Los Angeles Fire Department previously confirmed to Fox News Digital. She was transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition and was pronounced dead several hours later.
āProlific multi-award-winning actress, writer, and comedian Catherine OāHara died today at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness,ā her representatives said in a statement confirming her passing.
Years before her Death, OāHara publicly shared that she had been diagnosed with a rare medical condition known as dextrocardia situs inversus, discovered during a routine doctorās appointment. The condition causes the heart and other organs to be positioned on the opposite side of the body.
āHe calls US into his office and says, āYouāre the first one Iāve met!āā OāHara recalled during a 2020 episode of āVirtual Happy Hourā with Kathryn Hall. āI donāt even know the name, because I donāt want to know the name. Something cardio-inversus. And then dextrocardia and something-inversus.ā
āPeople are going to think Iām so ignorant not to know this, but I kind of donāt want to know. Because I didnāt know before that.ā
OāHaraās career stretched across decades and genres, cementing her as one of Hollywoodās most versatile performers. She became a household name for her role as the frantic yet lovable mother in the āHome Aloneā films and later captivated audiences with her eccentric portrayal of Moira Rose on āSchittās Creek.ā
Her film rĆ©sumĆ© included standout roles in classics such as āBeetlejuiceā and āThe Nightmare Before Christmas,ā showcasing her unique ability to blend comedy with heart.
In the later years of her career, OāHara received some of her highest praise for āSchittās Creek,ā earning an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, a Criticsā Choice Award, a TCA Award, and multiple Canadian Screen Awards for the showās final two seasons.
She also earned recent Emmy nominations for her performances in āThe Last of USā and āThe Studio.ā
OāHara is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, their sons Matthew and Luke, and several siblings.
