Jenna Ortega says she will ‘forever cherish’ working with Catherine O’Hara in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ and shares a heartfelt tribute<\/b>
\nCatherine O\u2019Hara\u2019s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie granddaughter, Jenna Ortega, has reacted to her death at 71.
\u201cCatherine is one of the most beautiful people I\u2019ve ever had the honor of getting to work with and know,\u201d Ortega, 23, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, February 1. \u201cI\u2019ll forever cherish the time we shared together, and everything she taught me.\u201d
She continued, \u201cA giant and inspiration in many ways. One of the greats. Thank you so much for it all.\u201d
Us Weekly confirmed on Friday, January 30, that O\u2019Hara died following a brief hospitalization and undisclosed illness.
\u201cProlific multi-award-winning actress, writer and comedian Catherine O\u2019Hara died today at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness,\u201d O\u2019Hara\u2019s agency, Creative Artists Agency, wrote in a statement. \u201cA private celebration of life will be held by the family.\u201d
Among O\u2019Hara\u2019s most iconic film and TV credits was her memorable role as Delia Deetz in 1988\u2019s Beetlejuice and its 2024 sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. In Tim Burton\u2019s original film, Delia and Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones) move into a haunted house with their daughter, Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), where they cross paths with a deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) and a rambunctious spirit named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton).
O\u2019Hara, Ryder, 54, and Keaton, 74, all reprised their roles in Burton\u2019s recent sequel. Ortega joined the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice cast as Lydia\u2019s daughter, Astrid Deetz.
\u201cTim [Burton] was just so excited and enthusiastic about doing it, and that was infectious,\u201d O\u2019Hara told Parade in September 2024 of reprising her role. \u201cEverybody jumped in, and we kept saying, \u2018Do you believe we\u2019re doing this?\u2019 And to see Michael\u2019s face for the first time as Beetlejuice! Like, his character doesn\u2019t have to age because he was always dead.\u201d
Despite her excitement to step into Delia Deetz\u2019s shoes once again, the Schitt\u2019s Creek alum still found the task daunting.
\u201cIt\u2019s 35 years later, I\u2019m probably the oldest cast member, and I let myself age naturally,\u201d O\u2019Hara explained to the outlet. \u201cSo, I\u2019m going on camera playing the same person, but that was also the lovely part. It was lovely to think about where these characters are now.\u201d
O\u2019Hara is survived by husband Bo Welch, whom she famously met on the set of the first Beetlejuice, and the couple\u2019s two sons.
\u201cHe\u2019s a production designer. It\u2019s a lovely memory,\u201d O\u2019Hara told Parade of meeting Welch, 74. \u201cMy husband and I love to laugh. We\u2019d laugh 50 times a day if we could. Even when we have a fight, we\u2019ll somehow say something to make fun of the other person, so you just have to laugh at the ridiculousness of us.\u201d
After O\u2019Hara\u2019s death, several of her Beetlejuice costars shared emotional tributes of their own in honor of their late costar.
\u201cWe go back before the first Beetlejuice,\u201d Keaton wrote via Instagram on Friday. \u201cShe\u2019s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her. Thinking about [Bo] as well.\u201d
Director Burton, 67, also offered his condolences via social media.
\u201cCatherine, I love you,\u201d Burton captioned an Instagram photo from the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice set. \u201cYou were a special part of my life and after life.\u201d<\/p>\n