Actors and directors remember Catherine O’Hara as one of the greats and gone too soon.<\/b>
\nFriday, January 30, surprised everyone with the death of Catherine O\u2019Hara. At 71, the actress known for Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and plenty of other movies and shows passed due to a \u201cbrief illness,\u201d according to multiple reports.
Following the news, O\u2019Hara was eulogized by several costars across the decades, including Home Alone\u2019s Macaulay Culkin. \u201cMama, I thought we had more time,\u201d he wrote on Instagram. \u201cI 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\u2019ll see you later.\u201d
\u201cShe\u2019s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend,\u201d said Michael Keaton. \u201cWe go back before the first Beetlejuice. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her. Thinking about [her husband, Bo Welch] as well.\u201d
\u201cOh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful,\u201d added The Last of Us\u2019 Pedro Pascal. \u201cThere is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always \u2665\ufe0f.\u201d Separately, series co-creator Craig Mazin remembered her as a \u201cwonderful, brilliant, kind, beautiful human being. I think she would prefer that we keep laughing somehow, or at the very least not cry. We were lucky to have had you at all.\u201d
In a joint statement, the cast and crew of Apple\u2019s The Studio called her \u201ca hero to all of us, and we pinched ourselves every day that we got to work with her. We\u2019re unbelievably saddened she is gone and send our deepest sympathy to Bo and all her family.\u201d
Separately, her longtime friend and Schitt\u2019s Creek costar Eugene Levy called it \u201can honor [to know and work with] Catherine for over fifty years. From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to SCTV, to the movies we did with Chris Guest, to our six glorious years on \u2018Schitt\u2019s Creek,\u2019 I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship. And I will miss her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and the entire O\u2019Hara family.\u201d
We\u2019ve collected more eulogies for O\u2019Hara down below.
What an honor it was to be spoofed by Catherine O\u2019Hara. What an unfathomable loss. We love you, Catherine. Comedy won\u2019t be the same without her. Sending love to Catherine\u2019s family, friends, castmates, and fans today. Truly beloved. pic.twitter.com\/ucUYTj8zmm
Brooke Shields (@BrookeShields) January 30, 2026<\/p>\n

This is shattering news. What a wonderful person, artist and collaborator. I was lucky enough to direct, produce and act in projects with her and she was simply growing more brilliant with each year. My heart goes out to Bo & family. #RIPCatherineO\u2019Hara https:\/\/t.co\/7pWcpYARai
\u2014 Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) January 30, 2026<\/p>\n

From SCTV to Home Alone to her unforgettable role as Moira Rose on Schitt\u2019s Creek, Catherine O\u2019Hara was a beloved Canadian icon with a rare gift for comedy and heart. She made people laugh across generations and helped bring Canadian storytelling to the world in a way only she\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/tO72Xy3yqp
\u2014 Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 30, 2026<\/p>\n

While working at Toronto\u2019s Second City Theater, Catherine O\u2019Hara was made Gilda Radner\u2019s understudy.
When Radner left in 1974, O\u2019Hara became a member of the company, and her ability to imbue her comedic characters with depth and humanity launched a decades-long career. pic.twitter.com\/NazY2aEuQA
\u2014 Encyclopaedia Britannica (@Britannica) January 30, 2026<\/p>\n