Reports claiming the death of veteran actor Catherine O’Hara at the age of 71 have prompted an emotional outpouring of tributes from her co-stars and admirers across generations, with many taking to social media to celebrate her legacy and influence on film and television.
The actor, widely admired for her razor-sharp comic timing and memorable performances in “Home Alone”, “Schitt’s Creek”, “Beetlejuice” and “Best in Show”, has been the subject of widespread online mourning since Friday, with several of her former collaborators posting deeply personal messages.
Macaulay Culkin, who portrayed her on-screen son in the “Home Alone” franchise, shared photos from the films alongside a more recent image from her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more,” he wrote, adding, “I love you. I’ll see you later.”
Dan Levy, who played her son David Rose in the Emmy-winning series “Schitt’s Creek”, described O’Hara as an “extended family” and credited her with decades of creative brilliance. “It’s hard to imagine a world without her in it,” Levy wrote, offering condolences to her husband Bo Welch and their sons.
Actor and producer Seth Rogen, who worked with O’Hara on “The Studio”, called her “the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen,” adding that working alongside her was “a true honour.” He described the reports as “devastating”, noting her generosity and creative intuition.
Pedro Pascal, who shared scenes with O’Hara in “The Last of Us”, paid tribute by calling her a “genius”, writing that “there is less light in my world,” while Meryl Streep, her co-star in “Heartburn”, praised O’Hara for bringing “love and light” to audiences through her portrayals of complex and eccentric characters.
Michael Keaton, who appeared alongside her in “Beetlejuice”, reflected on their long friendship, writing, “She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real-life, true friend. This one hurts.”
O’Hara’s career spanned more than five decades, during which she became one of the most respected comic actors in Hollywood, earning multiple Emmy Awards and a devoted global fan base.
