Macaulay Culkin is among the famous faces who have paid heartbreaking tribute to Catherine O’Hara, who died on Friday at the age of 71.
The star passed away at her home in Los Angeles ‘following a brief illness,’ the Daily Mail has confirmed. Her cause of death has not been revealed.
O’Hara famously played Culkin’s mother in the first two Home Alone films, and was well known for playing Moira Rose Schitt’s Creek, where she won an Emmy for her role at the 2020 awards ceremony.
The actress was also known for her roles in films including Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind.
More recently, she starred as Patty Leigh in Apple TV+’s The Studio.
The legendary actress starred alongside many of Hollywood’s A-listers, many of whom took to social media to pay tribute to the star in the wake of her death.
‘Mama. I thought we had time,’ Culkin wrote, alongside two pictures – one of the pair in Home Alone and another more recent image after the duo reunited on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
‘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,’ he concluded the post. ‘I’ll see you later.’
A slew of famous faces have paid heartbreaking tribute to Catherine O’Hara, who died on Friday at the age of 71 (pictured in September 2025)
O’Hara famously played Culkin’s mother in the first two Home Alone films. The actor shared two pictures – one of the pair in Home Alone and another more recent image after the duo reunited on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Michael Douglas, who co-starred alongside O’Hara in 1988 classic Beetlejuice, as well as it’s 2024 sequel, shared a picture of the two of them with a touching caption.
‘We go back before the first Beetlejuice,’ he wrote.
‘She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend.
‘This one hurts,’ he concluded the post. ‘Man am I gonna miss her. Thinking about Beau as well.’
‘I have no words,’ Francesca Scorsese shared, posting a photo of father, Martin Scorcese’s reaction on FaceTime. ‘F–king devastated. Literally in shock.’
‘Catherine O’Hara was a brilliant comedian. Sending love to all who adored her, which might just be everyone,’ former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres wrote.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to X to pay tribute to the star, calling her 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 said, along with a snap of the two. ‘My thoughts are with her family, friends, and everyone who found joy in her work.’
Pedro Pascal, who starred alongside the actress on the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us, wrote on Instagram.
‘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,’ he wrote, with a heart emoji.
He concluded the post: ‘The one and ONLY Catherine O’Hara’, accompanying the words with a sweet snap of the two of them embracing.
O’Hara famously played Macaulay Culkin’s mother in the first two Home Alone films
Pedro Pascal, who starred alongside the actress on the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us, penned in a touching post to Instagram
Justin Theroux, who starred alongside O’Hara in the 2024 film Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, shared a snap of the star’s chair on set with her name on it.
‘Oh Catherine. You will be so so missed,’ he simply wrote.
Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram to share a clip of O’Hara from Waiting For Guffman, writing: ‘BEST OF THE BEST IN SHOW! Catherine O’Hara.’
Actor and filmmaker Ron Howard, who worked with O’Hara in the 1994 film The Paper, shared a message to X, calling it ‘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,’ he wrote. ‘My heart goes out to Bo & family.’
Rita Wilson penned a heartfelt tribute in a post to Instagram, calling O’Hara ‘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,’ she wrote. ‘May Catherine rest in peace. May her memory be eternal.’
Andy Cohen recalled falling ‘in love at first sight’ with O’Hara on SCTV.
‘It only got stronger. Rest In Peace, Angel Catherine O’Hara,’ the TV personality said.
Fellow Canadian Michael Bublé wrote a lengthy post to X, describing the performer as ‘one of a kind.’
‘Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it,’ he began the post. ‘A rare light in this world and her passing hits with a weight I can’t fully put into words.
The singer went on to say she was not only a ‘legendary artist, actor and comedian,’ but also 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. As an artist, she inspired me more than she’ll ever know. She set the bar for what it means to represent your country with excellence and grace and all without ever losing warmth or humility.
‘My heart is broken for her family, her loved ones, and everyone who adored her, both here in Canada and around the world. 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.’
Justin Theroux, who starred alongside O’Hara in the 2024 film Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, shared a snap of the star’s chair on set with her name on it
Hilaria Baldwin was among those to pay tribute. She shared an Instagram story featuring both O’Hara and husband Alec Baldwin in a behind-the-scenes interview from Beetlejuice and a picture of a young O’Hara featuring a poignant quote
O’Hara at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March, 2025
Actor Josh Gad wrote he ‘can’t bring myself to believe she is gone.’
‘Why is the world such a heart breaking 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,’ he wrote, alongside a picture of O’Hara.
‘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.’
Hilaria Baldwin was also among those to pay tribute. She shared an Instagram story featuring both O’Hara and husband Alec Baldwin in a behind-the-scenes interview from Beetlejuice in 1988.
The overlaid caption read: ‘Rest in peace. Rip Catherine O’Hara. Legend.’
In another Instagram story, Baldwin shared a snap of a young O’Hara along with a quote that read: ‘I’ve always been more comfortable being ridiculous than being glamorous.’
Comedian Tom Green, best known for Road Trip and The Tom Green Show, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘I’m so sorry to hear the news that Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara has passed away at 71.
‘She’s kept me and millions of others entertained throughout my lifetime — from her brilliant work on SCTV, to Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, Schitt’s Creek, and so many other films and television classics.
‘Her characters brought so much joy and laughter to the world. It’s with a heavy heart that I share this today. Rest in peace, Catherine O’Hara — one of the greatest Canadian comedy icons of all time.’
Former Saturday Night Live castmate, Kevin Nealon, paid his respects to O’Hara, calling her performances ‘unforgettable.’
‘Catherine O’Hara changed how so many of us understand comedy and humanity,’ he wrote.
‘From the chaos and heart of Home Alone to the unforgettable precision of Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, she created characters we’ll rewatch again and again.’
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