Catherine O’Hara Cause of Death
Catherine O’Hara cause of death 2026 rectal cancer
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office officially confirmed on Monday, February 9, 2026, that comedy legend Catherine O’Hara died from a pulmonary embolism. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, the immediate cause of death was a sudden blood clot in her lungs, but the document also revealed a previously unknown health struggle: rectal cancer was listed as an underlying condition. The 71-year-old Schitt’s Creek star passed away on January 30, 2026, after being rushed to the hospital from her home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles following reports of severe breathing difficulties. Her death certificate further notes that the actress has since been cremated, with her remains given to her husband of over 30 years, production designer Robert “Bo” Welch.+2
Until this week, the extent of O’Hara’s illness had been kept strictly private. At the time of her passing, representatives at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) stated only that she had died following a “brief illness.” The revelation of her cancer battle has provided context for her absence from high-profile events earlier this year, including the Golden Globes, where she was nominated for her role in the Apple TV+ series The Studio. Producers of the show, which stars Seth Rogen, noted that O’Hara’s filming schedule had been “quietly adjusted” in late 2025 due to what were then described only as “personal matters.”
Tributes have continued to pour in as fans and colleagues process the news of her hidden struggle. Eugene Levy, her collaborator of more than 50 years, expressed his heartbreak, stating that he “cherished every minute” of their friendship from their early days at SCTV to their global success with Schitt’s Creek. Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in the Home Alone films, shared a moving post on social media, writing: “Mama, I thought we had time. I wanted more.” Fellow Canadian icon Dan Levy also paid tribute, describing O’Hara as “extended family” and a “national treasure” whose brilliance and warmth influenced generations of performers.+2
O’Hara’s death marks the end of a prolific career that saw her win two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, most recently for her iconic portrayal of the eccentric Moira Rose. While she had previously spoken in interviews about living with situs inversus—a rare condition where the internal organs are a mirror image of their normal positions—medical experts, including those from Northwell Health, clarified that the condition was unlikely to have contributed to the pulmonary embolism. As the industry mourns the loss of one of its most versatile and beloved artists, O’Hara’s family has requested privacy while they prepare for a private memorial service to be held later this month in Toronto.
