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Golden Globe-winning US-Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71, media reports said Jan. 30, 2026, citing her agency. The actress reportedly died at her home in Los Angeles, California, after what was described as a brief illness.
According to TheWrap and other outlets, O’Hara died in her Los Angeles home.
The reports did not lay out further medical details beyond describing the illness as brief, while attributing the confirmation to her agency.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was mourning O’Hara alongside Canadians and fans worldwide, describing her career as one that had helped shape Canadian comedy. In a post on X, he wrote: "Over 5 decades of work, Catherine earned her place in the canon of Canadian comedy — from SCTV to Schitt's Creek," adding that "Canada has lost a legend."
Carney also passed on condolences to O’Hara’s family and loved ones, saying she would be dearly missed.
O’Hara was widely recognized for her work in both film and television, with prominent roles in titles such as “Beetlejuice,” “Home Alone,” and “A Mighty Wind.”
Her work also spanned comedy, drama, and voice acting, and she was known as a longtime member of the Canadian sketch series “Second City Television,” commonly referred to as SCTV, a Canadian television comedy show built around ensemble sketch performances.
O’Hara earned multiple Emmy Awards and won a Golden Globe for best actress for her portrayal of Moira Rose in “Schitt’s Creek,” a role that helped bring her renewed international recognition and further locked in her standing as one of Canada’s most celebrated performers.
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