Catherine O'Hara, Who Played Kevin's Mother in "Home Alone," Passes Away

Emmy-Winning Actress
Passes Away at 71 After Illness at Her Los Angeles Home

Actress Catherine O'Hara, who left a deep impression as Kevin's mother in the "Home Alone" movie series, has passed away at the age of 71.

Actress Catherine O'Hara, who left a deep impression as Kevin's mother in the movie series "Home Alone," has passed away. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

According to U.S. entertainment media outlets and the Associated Press, O'Hara died on the 30th (local time) at her home in Los Angeles after a period of illness. Her agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), officially announced her passing but did not disclose the specific cause of death.

In the early morning of the day she died, O'Hara's condition deteriorated rapidly and she was transported to a hospital by paramedics. The local media outlet Page Six reported that her condition was classified as "serious" in the medical records at that time. She is said to have passed away while receiving treatment at the hospital.

During her lifetime, O'Hara suffered from a rare congenital disorder known as situs inversus, in which major organs such as the heart and liver are located on the opposite side from their usual positions. This condition is known to occur in about one out of every 10,000 people. However, no direct link between the disorder and her death has been confirmed.

O'Hara was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1954 and began her acting career in the 1970s with the Toronto improvisational comedy troupe Second City. She gained recognition through the TV program "SCTV" and later moved to Hollywood, where she appeared in films such as Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" (1988). Her breakthrough role came with the 1990 release of "Home Alone," which has since become a staple of the Christmas season, airing every year during the holidays. In past interviews, O'Hara recalled the film's popularity, saying that people named "Kevin" would often approach her and ask her to call their name as she did in the movie.

She experienced a second heyday with the 2015 sitcom "Schitt's Creek," for which she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. At the time, she expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am thankful to be able to play a woman who can be entirely herself, just as I am at my age."

News of her passing prompted an outpouring of condolences from fellow actors and fans. Macaulay Culkin, who played her son Kevin in "Home Alone," shared on social media, "I thought we still had time. I regret not being able to share more stories. I love you," expressing his sorrow. Meryl Streep, who starred alongside O'Hara in the film "Heartburn," also paid tribute, saying, "O'Hara was an actress who brought warmth and humanity to eccentric characters. She will leave a huge void for everyone who loved her."

O'Hara is survived by her husband Bo Welch, a former art director whom she met on the set of "Beetlejuice," and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.