Catherine O’Hara and her husband, Bo Welch, reportedly kept news of her mystery illness to themselves ahead of her death.
O’Hara died Friday at the age of 71, her agency CAA, confirmed to Page Six following TMZ’s initial report. “Prolific multi-award-winning actress, writer, and comedian Catherine O’Hara died today at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness,” they told us in a statement.
The Los Angeles Fire Department told us exclusively on Friday that they responded to a 4:48 a.m. call to O’Hara’s home. They subsequently transported her to a hospital in “serious” condition.
A cause of death has not yet been revealed, though according to 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six, she was having “breathing difficulty” during her final hours.
According to the Daily Mail, Welch may have known “what was coming,” but “many of those closest to O’Hara were kept in the dark about her condition during her final days.”
Sources told the outlet on Saturday that some pals were left in “complete shock” following the “Schitt’s Creek” actress’ death.
A rep for O’Hara did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment on Saturday.
O’Hara was scheduled to shoot Season 2 of Seth Rogen’s “The Studio,” but pulled out just days prior to her death. According to the Sun, the schedule was “reworked … to focus on scenes without her character” as she addressed “personal matters.”
“It was not widely known she was dealing with any health or major issues,” an insider told the outlet following her death.
Aside from her spouse of 33 years, she also leaves behind sons Matthew, 31, and Luke, 29.
The legendary comedic actress — who starred in cult classics including “Beetlejuice,” “Waiting For Guffman,” and “Best in Show” — rose to mainstream fame after starring in “Home Alone” in 1990.
In more recent years, she experienced a career resurgence with prominent roles in “Schitt’s Creek” and “The Studio.”
In a resurfaced 2024 interview, the actress divulged that she felt “lucky to be alive” and continuing to field high-profile opportunities. “I’m lucky [I get] to keep doing things like this at my age — I can’t believe it,” she told Elle Canada in August 2024.
“Over the past few years, when I’ve gotten scared or nervous, or if I start grousing about something, I’ve tried to really practice turning it around and being grateful. Like, ‘How lucky are you right now to be alive? And then to have this opportunity right here in this moment?’”
Following O’Hara’s death, a deluge of celebrities and co-stars shared tributes to the beloved Golden Globe and Emmy winning actress.
“You were a special part of my life and after life,” director Tim Burton wrote in part.
Longtime friend and repeated co-star Eugene Levy also shared a tribute on Saturday.
“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,” he said in an emotional statement.
“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. And I will miss her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke, and the entire O’Hara family.”
Macaulay Culkin of “Home Alone” wrote, “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.”
The actress’ team confirmed to Page Six on Saturday that her family will hold a “private celebration of life.”
