Catherine O’Hara’s death at age 71 has rocked the celebrity world, with many of her former costars and friends reacting to the tragic news.
O’Hara died on Friday, January 30, at her home in Los Angeles “following a brief illness,” according to a statement from her agency, Creative Artists Agency.
The legendary actress was known for her roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Schitt’s Creek and more.
The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal was among the first to react to the news after O’Hara appeared in the HBO drama’s second season in 2025.
“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful,” he wrote via Instagram.
Keep scrolling to see what stars have said about O’Hara’s death:
Pedro Pascal
Pedro Pascal, who stars as Joel Miller in The Last of Us, captioned an Instagram photo of himself with O’Hara, “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 Catherine O’Hara.”
Michael McKean
O’Hara’s A Mighty Wind costar Michael McKean wrote via X, “Only one Catherine O’Hara, and now none. Heartbreaking.”
Justin Theroux
Justin Theroux, who starred in 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice with O’Hara, shared a photo of a chair with her name on it on a film set.
“🕊️Oh Catherine. You will be so so missed,” he wrote.
Amy Schumer
Comedian Amy Schumer commented on a post about O’Hara’s death, “Ugggg legend. No one funnier.”
Olivia Munn
“Absolutely heartbreaking. She was the kindest person in our business,” actress Olivia Munn added of O’Hara.
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin, who played O’Hara’s onscreen son in Home Alone, paid tribute to the actress via Instagram.
“Mama. I thought we had time,” he wrote alongside a throwback photo from the film and a more recent snap. “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.”
Rita Wilson
O’Hara’s close friend Rita Wilson wrote via Instagram, “Catherine O’Hara — a woman who was authentic and truthful in all she did. You saw it in her work, if you knew her you saw it in her life, and you saw it in her family. Bo, Luke and Matthew, our deepest sympathies. May Catherine rest in peace. May her memory be eternal.”
Josh Gad
Josh Gad expressed heartbreak over O’Hara’s death after she appeared in the John Hughes cast reunion episode of his YouTube series “Reunited Apart” in 2020.
“I don’t understand what I’m seeing. I can’t bring myself to believe she is gone,” he wrote via Instagram. “Why is the world such a heartbreaking place right now? I truly cannot process how to say goodbye to someone so full of life who seemed to just be hitting her prime.”
Gad continued, “Goodbye legend. Thank you for making us laugh until we hurt … which is why right now we are all hurting so damned much knowing we will never again get those laughs. RIP. My love and deepest condolences go out to her entire family.”
Ike Barinholtz
O’Hara’s The Studio costar Ike Barinholtz wrote alongside a photo of the pair, “I never in a million years thought I would get to work with Catherine O’Hara, let alone become friends with her. So profoundly sad she’s somewhere else now. So incredibly grateful I got to spend the time I did with her. Thank you Catherine I love you ❤️.”
Jenni Farley
Jenni “JWoww” Farley shared throwback photos of her family’s Schitt’s Creek-themed Halloween costumes, as well as a photo of O’Hara.
“My heart is truly broken. Catherine O’Hara was my favorite actor, and Moira Rose was my favorite character of all time,” she wrote, referring to O’Hara’s character on the show. “She gave us laughter, brilliance, and a character that felt larger than life yet deeply human. I had the craziest parasocial relationship with her because she was my whole childhood … Moira got me through some tough times …”
Laura Whitmore
Irish media personality Laura Whitmore paid tribute to O’Hara via social media.
“The best. Catherine O Hara – What a legacy! So shocked and saddened by her passing ❤️ she brought so many iconic characters to life but I’d like to especially thank her for bringing us Moira Rose during lockdown. Very grateful for that joy!” she wrote.
Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen wrote that he “fell in love at first sight” with O’Hara when he saw her in the 1976 sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV).
“And it only got stronger,” he added. “Rest In Peace, Angel Catherine O’Hara.”
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks shared a clip from O’Hara’s 1996 film Waiting for Guffman and wrote, “She was an all-timer. Her memory and work is a blessing. Rest peacefully.”
Michael Keaton
Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton wrote via Instagram, “We go back before the first Beetlejuice. She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real-life, true friend. This one hurts. Man, am I gonna miss her.”
Keaton added, “Thinking about Beau as well,” seemingly referring to O’Hara’s husband, Bo Welch, who served as the production designer on Beetlejuice.
Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris shared a tribute via Instagram.
“I’m stunned and so sad. Catherine O’Hara was truly one of the greats. Classy, kind, warm, and hilarious. A singular talent. May she rest in peace,” he wrote.
Ron Howard
O’Hara’s The Studio costar Ron Howard called her a “wonderful person, artist and collaborator” via a post on X.
“She was simply growing more brilliant with each year,” he added.
Seth Rogen
O’Hara’s The Studio costar Seth Rogen shared a photo of the pair and wrote, “Really don’t know what to say… I told O’Hara when I first met her 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 honorr [sic]. 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.”
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin, who starred in the first Beetlejuice movie, said in a statement to Page Six that O’Hara was “one of the greatest comic talents in the movie business.”
“She had a quality that was all her own and my sympathy goes out to Bo and their family,” he continued.
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres shared a throwback photo from her talk show interview with O’Hara.
“Catherine O’Hara was a brilliant comedian,” she wrote. “Sending love to all who adored her, which might just be everyone.”
Devin Ratray
Devin Ratray, who played O’Hara’s onscreen son Buzz McCallister in the Home Alone movies, shared a throwback photo with the Canada native via Instagram.
“One of the greatest people I ever met. It just doesn’t register. Bewildered and numb,” he wrote.
Sandra Lee
After O’Hara’s death was confirmed, Emmy winner Sandra Lee couldn’t help but reflect on her unforgettable run-ins with the actress.
“I have to say as funny and kind and warm as you think she is, she was even more, a light and a delight,” Lee shared with Us Weekly. “What a loss.”
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Taking to Instagram, Zeta-Jones, 56 paid tribute to the late actress.
“Catheine O’Hara, a comedic genius and dramatic actress, a talent so rare and unique that she has inspired so many of us. Thank you Catherine. Rest in Peace” she wrote.
Michael Bublé
Canadian singer and songwriter Michael Bublé, 50, wrote an emotional goodbye via Instagram
“Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it,” he wrote. “Catherine O’Hara was one of a kind. A rare light in this world and her passing hits with a weight I can’t fully put into words.
He continued, “She wasn’t just a legendary artist, actor and comedian. She was an ambassador for Canada in the truest sense: brilliant, fearless, deeply original, and so full of humanity. She made the world laugh, but she also made people feel seen.”
Bublé went on to explain how much O’Hara had inspired him as a fellow Canadian.
“She set the bar for what it means to represent your country with excellence and grace and all without ever losing warmth or humility,” he wrote. “My heart is broken for her family, her loved ones, and everyone who adored her, both here in Canada and around the world.”
H concluded, “If you’re grieving this loss, you’re not alone. We’re all holding a piece of this sadness together. Rest easy, Catherine. Thank you for everything.”
Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Apple TV+)
Eugene Levy
O’Hara’s longtime friend and collaborator Eugene Levy, who played O’Hara’s onscreen husband on Schitt’s Creek, shared a statement with Us Weekly on January 30.
“Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today. I had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O’Hara 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 Schitt’s Creek, I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship,” Eugene, 79, said. “And I will miss her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke, and the entire O’Hara family.”
Sarah Levy
Taking to Instagram, another of O’Hara’s Schitt’s Creek costars, Sarah Levy, paid tribute to the actress.
“This one cuts deep. What an honor it has been to know and work with and love Catherine O’Hara,” Sarah, 39, wrote. “Cheers to all that you brought to this world — you will be so, so missed. ❤️”
Melanie Lynskey
Lynskey, who worked with O’Hara on Away We Go, wrote a lengthy post that was shared via Instagram.
“So grateful I got to tell her what she meant to me- how she inspired me, shaped my sense of humour and understanding of the work we do, that she was the pinnacle of greatness to me. I’m sure every actor she met told her similar things,” Lynskey, 48, wrote. “She did not behave as though she’d heard it a million times, she listened and accepted it with grace and wit and tremendous kindness.
Describing O’Hara as “my hero” and “genius” Lynskey gushed about having the opportunity to work with her.
“It was incredible to watch her work and be in her presence. I’ll never forget a minute of it. That day, and again on an overlapping shoot day on Away We Go, I saw her be nothing short of wonderful to every single person she encountered, from the director to the PAs. When people say someone ‘lit up a room,’ this is what they mean,” Lynskey continued.
She concluded,“She was radiant; it was kind of otherworldly. Her talent was singular. There’s been nobody like her before and there won’t be again. What a genius. What a beautiful person.💔My heart is with her family and dear friends who adored her.”
Lea Thompson
Back to the Future star Lea Thompson honored her Hollywood friend with touching words.
“Kathryn was the most glorious person. Kind, honest, smart, funny, and beautiful beyond words. She carried the spirit. You could feel her love of humanity in her brilliant work. And she had integrity, clarity and wisdom that made her a unique treasure,” she wrote via Instagram. “I know the greats are with her now trying to pick her wonderful brain as to how she could do it all. Here on earth or hearts are a bit broken. We needed you now more than ever. Rest in peace dear friend.”
Catherine O’Hara and Bryan Cranston. (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo)
Bryan Cranston
Posting a photo of the pair together, Bryan Cranston shared just how much he’ll miss O’Hara following her death.
“I am completely devastated today upon hearing of this great lady passing away. Catherine O’Hara was a genius comedic actor, and a beautiful human being. I adored her. We worked together as husband and wife I think three or four times… I’ve lost count. And then again just last year as rivals on The Studio,” he wrote. “Working with Catherine was like playing tennis with Venus Williams. She never let you feel it – but you just tried to volley the ball back to her, hoping that you can come close to her level of talent. She was brilliant, and joyful.
He continued, “I think back on all the years where I laughed so much at what she did on screen… I have to. I need to, because now all I can do is cry. I’ll miss you. Make ‘em laugh in heaven.”
Andy Cohen
Sharing a throwback from O’Hara’s work on SCTV, Bravo’s Andy Cohen, wrote,“Fell in love at first sight on SCTV and it only got stronger. Rest In Peace, Angel Catherine O’Hara.”
Former talk show host Ricki Lake also lamented the loss as she replied in comments, “This one hurts so much. No one was funnier. 💔”
Justin Trudeau
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 54, acknowledged how much the Canadian actress achieved in her lifetime.
“From SCTV to Home Alone to her unforgettable role as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, Catherine O’Hara 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 could,” he posted via Instagram. “My thoughts are with her family, friends, and everyone who found joy in her work.”
Lance Bass
NSYNC singer Lance Bass summed up the loss succinctly, writing via his Instagram Story, “Well, this one hurt. A lot.”
Lucy Hale
Taking to her Instagram Story, Pretty Little Liars alum Lucy Hale, 36, posted, “No one was funnier! What a woman. Rest in peace.”
Rumer Willis
Rumer Willis echoed the sentiment that many celebrities were feeling over the loss, writing, “This one really hurts.”
Brooke Shields
Shared a clip of O’Hara parodying her on SCTV’s The Brooke Shields Show in 1984, Shields reflected on the comedy queen after her death.
“What an honor it was to be spoofed by Catherine O’Hara. What an unfathomable loss. We love you Catherine,” Shields wrote via Instagram. “Comedy won’t be the same without her. Sending love to Catherine’s family, friends, castmates, and fans today. Truly beloved.”
Chris Columbus
Home Alone director Chris Columbus said he was “stunned and heartbroken” over O’Hara’s death.
“Today we lost Catherine O’Hara. I’m stunned and heartbroken, along with the rest of the world. I was an obsessive fan of Catherine’s brilliant comedic work on SCTV and was thrilled when she agreed to play Kevin’s Mom in Home Alone,” he wrote. “What most people don’t realize is that Catherine carries the weight of 50% of that film. The movie simply would not work without her extraordinary performance. Catherine grounds the picture with a profound emotional depth.”
He concluded, “I will miss her greatly. Yet there is a small sense of comfort, realizing that two of the finest human beings I’ve ever known, Catherine and John Candy, are together again, brilliantly improvising, making each other laugh.”
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