Catherine O’Hara’s family will honor the late actress with a private celebration of life, according to details shared in an obituary released following her death. The Home Alone and Beetlejuice star died Friday at the age of 71 after what was described as a brief illness. The obituary noted that a memorial will be held privately by her family, including her husband, Bo Welch, and their sons, Matthew and Luke.
No official cause of death has been disclosed.
“A private celebration of life will be held by the family,” the obituary stated.
Emergency responders were reportedly called to O’Hara’s Brentwood home shortly before 5 a.m. on the morning of her death, at which time she was said to be in serious condition. She later passed away at a Los Angeles hospital.
Since the news broke, tributes have poured in from colleagues and admirers across the entertainment industry.
Macaulay Culkin, who played her on screen son in the Home Alone films, shared a deeply personal tribute on Instagram alongside two photos of the pair. One image dated back to their time working together on the franchise, while the other was taken in 2023 at Culkin’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, which O’Hara attended.
“Mama.
I 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’ll see you later.”
Pedro Pascal, who worked with O’Hara on The Last of Us, also paid tribute on social media. “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 #CatherineOHara”
Michael Keaton, her longtime collaborator and co-star in Beetlejuice, reflected on their friendship in a statement. “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. Thinking about Beau as well.”
Justin Theroux, who appeared with O’Hara in 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, also shared his condolences. “Oh Catherine. You will be so so missed.”
O’Hara’s death marks the loss of one of comedy’s most beloved performers, remembered not only for her iconic characters but for the warmth and generosity colleagues consistently described off-screen.
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“Mama I thought we had time” Macauley Culkin, others pay tribute to Catherine O’Hara
