Actress Catherine O'Hara, best known for her role as Kevin's mother in Home Alone, has died. We remember her life

On January 30, 2026, actress Catherine O'Hara's heart stopped. You may have seen her in the first two films of the Home Alone series and the Beetlejuice duology. She also frequently voiced characters in animated films, such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Frankenweenie. Her most recent work includes the series The Studio and The Last of Us. In this article, we explored Catherine O'Hara's roles in film and beyond.

Catherine was born on March 4, 1954, into a large family. From an early age, she loved to impersonate others, which brought genuine laughter to her family. After graduating from Burnhamthorpe College in 1974, she first worked as a waitress at The Second City Theatre. There, the future actress observed performances and then decided to try her hand at being a performer in the troupe. Later, a sketch show was launched on television. Catherine initially understudy Gilda Radner, and then became a regular participant in the comedy sketches. She also wrote scripts for mini-scenes, for which she received her first Emmy Award.

At the same time, Catherine O'Hara was doing voice work for cartoons and appearing in various television series. In 1980, she made her feature film debut in Double Negative, a film you've probably never heard of. But it was a start. Five years later, the actress appeared in Martin Scorsese's black comedy After Hours, and in 1988, in Tim Burton's first Beetlejuice. There she met production designer Bo Welch, whom she married four years later.

If Beetlejuice made the actress famous, Home Alone turned her into a movie star known to the world. The concept of Chris Columbus's comedy is simple: young Kevin quarrels with his family on the eve of a trip to another city, the boy is forgotten, and the family leaves without him. But soon, thieves, who prey on the holidays, arrive. The young man turns his house into a fortress, sets traps, and ultimately turns the hapless criminals over to the police. "Home Alone" combines cartoonish violence with genuinely touching moments. It's no wonder it continues to be included in lists of the best Christmas films.

Catherine O'Hara played Kate McCallister, Kevin's mother. Her character decided to return home, but it proved difficult, as transportation was extremely difficult during the holidays. It was clear that she felt guilty about her argument with her son and was worried about him. And rightly so, as the boy was indeed in serious danger.

With a budget of $18 million, Home Alone grossed $476 million at the box office. That's a solid result even by today's standards, but in 1990, such figures represented phenomenal success. The film set numerous records, including the title of highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time. It's no surprise that a sequel was soon decided upon.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a prime example of deliberate repetition. The screenwriters ironically claim that the situation is repeating itself, but in reality, they're showing essentially the same thing, albeit in a different setting. But the film also has its highlights, such as the scene at the Plaza Hotel, where all the audience's attention is focused on the charismatic concierge played by Tim Curry. The scheme worked the second time around, grossing $358 million on a $20 million budget.

The subsequent films in the series did not feature either Macaulay Culkin, who played Kevin, or Catherine O'Hara. And they weren't particularly profitable. If you're looking to experience the classics now, we recommend limiting yourself to the first two films.

Kate McCallister's image remained the most recognizable in the actress's life, but she continued acting until her very last days. Notable films include The Paper, which explores the print media of the '90s; the dark comedy Home Fries, in which an attempt to punish a cheater leads to unpredictable events; and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, a film adaptation ofadaptation of Daniel Handler's book series of the same name. Moreover, the actress was the only one to appear in both adaptations—the 2004 feature film and the series that ran from 2017 to 2019.

From 2015 to 2020, Katherine played one of the leading roles in the sitcom Schitt's Creek. Her character is Moira Rose, a former soap opera star who finds herself in difficult circumstances. This work earned the actress her second Emmy Award.

It's worth noting that Katherine hasn't given up on voiceover work for animated films. You may have heard her voice in Over the Hedge, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie, and other animated films.

The actress occasionally appeared in Tim Burton's projects. When it came time to film the second Beetlejuice, the director invited her back. Katerine again played Delia Deetz, Lydia's mother. She also played a big boss in the excellent series The Studio. As a result, she was once again nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. At the same 2025 ceremony, Katherine was up for the award for Best Guest Star for a small role in a TV series. The Last of Us.

The actress's most recent work was the rather good DreamWorks animated film The Wild Robot.

What memorable roles of Catherine O'Hara's have you remembered? Share your thoughts in the comments!