Catherine O’Hara was a popular Canadian-American actress who starred in movies like “Beetlejuice,” “Home Alone,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and many more. She started acting in 1974 at the age of 20, making her first appearance with the Second City Improvisational comedy troupe. She began as an understudy and went on to be a famous actress worth over $10 million.
O’Hara sadly passed away on Jan. 30, due to an illness she had for some time. Though her definite cause of death is not released, it is confirmed that she was hospitalized for breathing troubles and diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect known as dextrocardia with situs inversus in 2021.
Hearing the news of her passing affected her fans greatly. She was an extremely talented actress, featuring in highly rated and well-liked projects.
“I loved her as an actress, especially in the Christmas movie Home Alone. It made me mad that TMZ published her call to the police when she was dying,” Lauren Battle (11) said.
Her big media break came when she appeared on Second City. She became a fan favorite almost immediately due to her unique style and sense of comedy. She never fully leaned into fame chasing; O’Hara stuck with smart, funny, and atypical characters. Her versatility made her increasingly popular, shining through with her range of acting jobs, going from voice acting, television, movies, live shows, and more.
O’Hara was born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Canada. After becoming interested in acting and performing, she attended Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute, an alternative high school in Toronto. At this school, she really leaned into acting and went on to pursue her passion.
Since O’Hara started her acting career in the 70s, she is well known by older generations. The staff knows her from shows and movies like “Home Alone,” “SCTV,” “A Mighty Wind,” and “Best in Show”.
“I know her from Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, but mostly Home Alone,” Math teacher Katie Carelock said.
O’Hara was still active in acting up until her passing. The Gen Z community knows her from movies like “Beetlejuice” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
“I know her from Home Alone and Beetlejuice. I loved those movies growing up. I was really upset when I heard she died,” Marlee Henry (10) said.
