Catherine O’Hara once shared her thoughts on how she wished to pass away, long before her eventual demise.
This past Friday (January 30), O’Hara’s representatives announced that the beloved actress had passed away in her Los Angeles residence after a short illness. The specific cause of her death is still unknown.
O’Hara started her career on the Canadian program Second City Television, which earned her an Emmy Award. She gained further fame through her roles in films like Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Additionally, she was known for her portrayal of Moira Rose on the sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
More than ten years ago, O’Hara discussed her preferred manner of death, which was both touching and humorous.
In a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair, O’Hara said: “Laughing. Surrounded by my old grandchildren, who are telling me to ‘let go, already, Grandma!’”
She also expressed her views on reincarnation, saying: “I’ve got to believe God is into recycling. I’d like to come back in the body of a much more evolved person who has lovely, thick hair and skin that tans.”
She is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.
Following the news of her passing, many have poured out their tributes to the esteemed actress. On Instagram, Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin shared his memories: “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.”
He included two photos with the actress: one taken during the filming of Home Alone and another from a recent event celebrating Culkin’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Actor Pedro Pascal also honored O’Hara. He posted a photo from The Last of Us set and wrote: “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. Always. The one and ONLY #CatherineOHara.”
O’Hara’s recent work included a role in Seth Rogen’s The Studio, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Performance by a Female Actor.
Reflecting on her passing, Rogen remarked: “I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen. Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies.
“Getting to work with her was a true honour.
“She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous… she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.”