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Catherine O’Hara had recently starred in a number of new film and television productions prior to her passing. The celebrated, now-deceased actress passed away on January 30, 2026, in Los Angeles, stemming from a “short ailment,” according to her representative. The announcement led admirers and industry peers to ponder what transpired with Catherine during her concluding days.
As many are aware, Catherine, who hailed from Toronto, Canada, garnered acclaim for her performances in Beetlejuice, its continuation, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Schitt’s Creek, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Last of Us, The Studio and various other roles.
Continue reading for what we currently understand concerning Catherine’s well-being leading up to the devastating news of her demise.
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How Old Was Catherine O’Hara?
Catherine was 71 years of age when she died. Her date of birth was March 4, 1954.
How Did Catherine O’Hara Die? Her Cause of Death
As of this writing, the reason for Catherine’s death remains undisclosed. Her spokesperson merely verified that she died because of a “short illness,” as reported by Variety.
Was Catherine O’Hara Sick? Her ‘Brief Illness’ Explained
As previously mentioned, Catherine’s death followed an unspecific ailment. She didn’t mention any health concerns in her concluding months, but she lived with dextrocardia, a variation of situs inversus. The state arises when the heart points towards the right side of the chest while other organs are inverted, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The majority of those with situs inversus are unaware of their condition and are capable of living a complete existence.
In a past discussion, Catherine recounted her diagnosis, which occurred following an electrocardiography assessment and X-ray exam from many years ago. “Upon the doctor informing us that my heart resided on the right side and my organs were reversed, my spouse immediately responded, ‘No, her head’s on backwards,’” Catherine joked, according to USA Today.
TMZ indicated that dispatch audio highlighted she experienced breathing difficulties prior to being quickly transported to the hospital.
Catherine’s most recent appearance for the public occurred in September 2025 during the Primetime Emmy Awards, in which she showed support for her cast members of The Studio.
Why Was Catherine O’Hara Hospitalized Before She Died?
Catherine was taken to a medical facility around 5 a.m. local time on January 30, 2026, after emergency responders were summoned to her residence in Brentwood, California, according to TMZ. She was marked as being in “serious condition,” as stated by the L.A. Fire Department, the publication noted.
Several hours afterwards, Catherine was declared dead while at the hospital.