Comedy Icon Catherine O’Hara Dies At 71

Catherine O’Hara, the comedy icon beloved for her roles in "Home Alone," "Schitt's Creek" and Christopher Guest mockumentaries, has died at 71.

O'Hara died at her home in Los Angeles “following a brief illness,” according to a statement from her agency, CAA. Further details were not immediately available.

Born in Toronto on March 4, 1954, O'Hara got her start on Canada's late-1970s series “Second City Television," which would cement her as a legend of improv comedy. She was among the series' breakout stars, along with the likes of John Candy, Martin Short and longtime collaborator Eugene Levy.

She earned an Emmy Award for her writing on the sketch comedy show before earning acclaim in the 1980s and 1990s for her roles in films such as "Beetlejuice" and "Home Alone."

O'Hara had a fruitful collaborative relationship with British filmmaker Christopher Guest. She appeared in six of his mocumentary-style projects, often alongside Levy, beginning with the short-lived 1991 CBS series "Morton & Hayes," followed by the films "Waiting for Guffman," "Best in Show" and "For Your Consideration."

Her performance in the 2010 television film "Temple Grandin" earned her nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Satellite Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Two years later, she voices three characters in Tim Burton's animated film "Frankenweenie," showcasing her vocal range.

SEE ALSO: Catherine O'Hara Dies At 71: Remembering The Emmy-Winning Comedian In Photos

Nearly a decade after "For Your Consideration," her last collaboration with Guest and Levy, O'Hara embarked on what would turn into a major career resurgence with the 2015 premiere of "Schitt's Creek."

Created by Levy and his son, Dan Levy, the initial seasons of the Canadian-produced series aired on an obscure cable network in the U.S., but went on to earn a cult following — and subsequent mainstream success — worldwide after becoming available on Netflix.

A riches-to-rags story, "Schitt's Creek" follows a family forced out of their posh life and left to rely on their last remaining asset: An entire rural Canadian town for which the show is named.

O'Hara earned wide acclaim for her role as the family's matriarch, Moira Rose, an eccentric wig-wearing former soap opera star with an arcane vocabulary and bizarre manner of speaking reminiscent of an affected Tranatlantic accent.

As the flamboyant counterpoint to Eugene Levy's role as her strait-laced husband, O'Hara's Emmy-winning turn in "Schitt's Creek" introduced her to a new generation of fans — or at least reminded them of just how skilled a comedienne Kevin's mom from "Home Alone" really was.

"Catherine’s really brilliant when it comes to understanding the minutiae of a character and really squeezing every last laugh," Dan Levy, who also played O'Hara's son on the show, told Vulture.

Last year, O'Hara appeared in the acclaimed Apple TV+ comedy series "The Studio" — for which she earned her ninth and tenth Emmy notations — and the HBO post-apocalyptic drama "The Last of Us."

Pedro Pascal, who worked with O'Hara on "The Last of Us," paid tribute to her on Instagram Friday, writing, "Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always."

Other tributes have begun pouring in.

In an Instagram post, her "Home Alone" costar Macaulay Culkin said he wanted more time with his "mama."

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"I’m so sorry to hear the news that Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara has passed away at 71. She’s kept me and millions of others entertained throughout my lifetime — from her brilliant work on SCTV, to Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, Schitt’s Creek, and so many other films and television classics," comedian Tom Green wrote on X. "Her characters brought so much joy and laughter to the world. It’s with a heavy heart that I share this today. Rest in peace, Catherine O’Hara — one of the greatest Canadian comedy icons of all time."

O'Hara met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of "Beetlejuice," where he worked in that capacity. They married in 1992.

She is survived by Welch and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.