Catherine O’Hara had rectal cancer, but died from pulmonary embolism, reports confirm

Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy-winning actress and comedian best known for “Schitt’s Creek” and the “Home Alone” films, died of a pulmonary embolism, though she was also battling rectal cancer, according to multiple reports.

Ms. O’Hara died Jan. 30 at her Los Angeles home at age 71. Her representatives at Creative Artists Agency said at the time that she died “following a brief illness” but did not provide further details.

A death certificate from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office obtained by People shows a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs, as the immediate cause of death. Rectal cancer was listed as the underlying condition. The certificate also shows that Ms. O’Hara was cremated. TMZ first reported the cause of death and noted that her remains were given to her husband, Mr. Robert “Bo” Welch.

Ms. O’Hara’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the industry. Her “Home Alone” co-star Macaulay Culkin posted on Instagram: “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.” Meryl Streep, who worked with Ms. O’Hara in the 1986 film “Heartburn,” said she “brought love and light to our world, through whipsmart compassion for the collection of eccentrics she portrayed”.

Born in Toronto, Ms. O’Hara got her start at the Second City theater in the 1970s, where she first worked with Eugene Levy. They became original cast members of the sketch comedy series “SCTV,” alongside stars like Martin Short and John Candy.

Ms. O’Hara played supporting characters in Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours” (1985) and Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” (1988) before landing the role of the mother in “Home Alone” (1990). Later, she excelled in Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, including “Best in Show” (2000).

Her career reached a new peak with “Schitt’s Creek,” where she played the dramatically ditzy Moira Rose. She famously “Moira-ized” her dialogue with an obscure vocabulary and exaggerated accent.

Ms. O’Hara’s final roles were in Apple TV+’s “The Studio” and HBO’s “The Last of Us,” both of which earned her Emmy nominations, bringing her career total to 10. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Welch, and their two sons.