There are certain performers whose presence feels eternal, voices so distinctive, timing so precise, faces so expressive that it is impossible to imagine pop culture without them. Catherine O’Hara was one of those rare artists. With news of her passing at 71, Hollywood and generations of fans are pausing to reflect on a career that spanned five decades and reshaped what comedic performance could look like. She was last seen on The Studio alongside Seth Rogen, a fitting reminder that even in her final chapter, she remained creatively sharp and culturally relevant.

Her legacy lives in characters that feel stitched into collective memory. Roles that instantly transport you back, to holiday chaos, absurd wigs, melodramatic accents, and yes, the unmistakable sound of a mother screaming, “Kevin!” With that spirit in mind, here are five essential performances that define the brilliance of Catherine O’Hara.

In Home Alone, Catherine O’Hara played Kate McCallister, the harried mother of young Kevin, who is accidentally left behind when the family jets off for a Christmas vacation. Her cross-Atlantic scramble back to Chicago, bargaining with polka musicians and sprinting through airports, remains one of the most human arcs in a family comedy. Kate McCallister was not just a movie mom; she was the movie mom.

Catherine O’Hara and Macaulay Culkin even shared a deeply emotional reunion on December 1, 2023, when O’Hara honored her Home Alone co-star at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. 

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And yet, comedy was only one register of her genius.

Moira Rose is the role that reintroduced Catherine O’Hara to an entirely new generation, and perhaps her most daring. With an accent that defied geography and a wardrobe that bordered on performance art, Moira could have been a caricature. Instead, O’Hara infused her with vulnerability, ego, fear, and aching love. Across six seasons, she turned a fallen soap star into one of television’s most complex comedic creations, earning Emmy recognition and cementing her late-career renaissance.

The series follows the once-rich Rose family adjusting to life in Schitt’s Creek after losing their fortune. O’Hara’s Moira oscillates between cosmic self-importance and ridiculous sincerity, delivering some of television comedy’s most memorable, laugh-inducing moments. Her portrayal earned her a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe, rare accolades for nuanced comedy.

Before Moira, though, there was another gothic icon.

As Delia Deetz, Catherine O’Hara leaned fully into Tim Burton’s surreal aesthetic. An avant-garde sculptor and the oblivious stepmother of Winona Ryder’s Lydia, became the perfect counterbalance to the film’s supernatural chaos. Her over-the-top sense of style and pretentious artistic banter perfectly match Burton’s gothic, zany world. 

Delia’s exaggerated seriousness, especially in scenes of grief and 'artistic expression' showcased O’Hara’s gift for playing absurdity with total conviction. One of Catherine O’Hara’s most unforgettable moments came in Beetlejuice during the now-iconic dinner table possession scene set to Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O.” 

She also had a gift for voice work that often went underappreciated.

In Penelope, Catherine O’Hara voiced Jessica Wilhern, the overbearing socialite mother whose obsession with appearances fuels the film’s modern fairy-tale premise. Though a supporting role, her vocal performance added menace, humor, and satire, reinforcing her ability to elevate material even without physical presence.

Most recently, she reminded audiences she was never done evolving.

Last appearing on Seth Rogen’s industry satire The Studio, Catherine O’Hara played a sharp, knowing figure who felt like a wink to her own Hollywood longevity. It was a restrained performance, controlled, witty, and quietly authoritative, a final reminder that her instincts never dulled. 

Catherine O’Hara leaves behind her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke along with a body of work that continues to inspire comedians, actors, and audiences alike.

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Which Catherine O’Hara role meant the most to you? Share your favorite memory and celebrate a legend who gave comedy its soul.