Catherine O'Hara, SCTV and Schitt's Creek star, dies at 71

Comedy legend Catherine O'Hara has died at 71, Collider reported on Jan. 30, 2026.

Born March 4, 1954, O'Hara began performing with the Second City comedy troupe in her native Toronto and became a mainstay of both the big and small screen, with memorable turns from SCTV to Home Alone to Schitt's Creek.

She was part of SCTV's initial cast alongside Eugene Levy, John Candy and Harold Ramis and won an Emmy for her writing on the series. She was hired to join Saturday Night Live in 1981 but chose to remain with SCTV rather than move to New York, and she maintained both Canadian and American citizenship.

After SCTV she appeared in supporting film roles including After Hours and Heartburn. She married production designer Bo Welch in 1992 after meeting on the set of Beetlejuice, and the couple had two sons; Collider extended condolences to her friends and family.

The report notes this is a developing story and says more information will be added as it becomes available; Collider did not provide details on the cause or place of death.

catherine o'hara, sctv, schitt's creek, home alone, second city, emmy for writing, saturday night live, bo welch, beetlejuice set, after hours, heartburn, eugene levy, cause of death unknown