Richard Wilkins leads heartbreaking Aussie tributes to Catherine O’Hara following her death at 71

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Following the sad news of actress Catherine O’Hara‘s death at her Los Angeles home on Friday, Richard Wilkins was among the first Australians to pay tribute.

The Canadian-American actress passed away at 71 after a short illness, her representatives announced. This came just four months after she was last seen in public.

Australian celebrities are now sharing memories of the TV and film star’s amazing career. Richard, age 71, started the tribute with a post on Instagram.

Nine’s entertainment editor responded to a social media post by Today after the breakfast show announced a death early Saturday morning.

Richard shared a heartfelt message under a photo of the Schitt’s Creek actor, calling them a beautiful person and a uniquely talented individual.

Oh my gosh, after seeing the photo of Catherine on the red carpet, Angela Bishop just had to post too! It was this huge, amazing message on Instagram, all about her, and I just HAD to read every single word. Seriously, it was everything!

I was so saddened to hear about the passing of Catherine O’Hara at the age of 71, after a short illness. She was truly one of a kind, and I’ll always remember her iconic roles – from Moira Rose in ‘Schitt’s Creek’ to her unforgettable performances in films like ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Beetlejuice’. She brought so much joy to audiences everywhere.

Angela, 58, mentioned that Catherine began her career on the Canadian sketch comedy show Second City Television, and it was there she formed a close friendship with her future Schitt’s Creek colleague, Eugene Levy.

She mentioned her well-known role as Kevin’s mother in the movie Home Alone, and also fondly remembered her collaborations with Christopher Guest on several of his films.

Angela also highlighted her memorable performances in ‘Beetlejuice’ and its follow-up, as well as her Golden Globe nomination for her work on ‘The Studio’.

The TV presenter noted that she’s nominated for an Actor award (formerly known as a SAG Award) on March 1st for this same role, and that this nomination now feels especially meaningful.

Elsewhere, Shaynna Blaze also penned a tribute to the late actress on her social media.

She just had this incredible talent and a joy that really stayed with you – she truly made an impact. I was so touched by her, and I’m sending all my love. Fly high, beautiful lady!

Lana Wilkinson, Toni Collette, Moana Hope, Georgie Tunny, Celeste Barber, and Simone Holtznagel were among those who honored Catherine, posting pictures of her and beloved scenes from Schitt’s Creek.

Catherine passed away early Saturday morning after a short illness, according to her representatives. The specific cause of death has not been made public.

Catherine passed away at her Los Angeles home on Friday, according to a statement from her agency, CAA.

According to a Los Angeles Fire Department representative, they received a call for medical help at that location at 4:48 AM and took a woman, estimated to be around 70 years old, to the hospital in serious condition.

Daily Mail has requested comment from reps for Catherine.

The actress is survived by her husband of over 30 years, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew, age 32, and Luke, age 29.

Catherine was last seen in public at the Emmys in September, and she seemed unwell while walking the red carpet.

She didn’t attend the 2026 Golden Globes on January 11th, despite being nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Television series for her work on The Studio.

Oh my gosh, it was EVERYTHING! Macaulay Culkin actually came on stage! Can you believe it?! He presented the award for Best Screenplay, and he talked about Home Alone – our Home Alone! – and it was just… magical. Seriously, seeing him up there, remembering that movie… I almost lost it. It was the highlight of the whole night, honestly.

When news of Catherine’s death became public, Macaulay, 45, shared a moving tribute on Instagram.

He posted a side-by-side photo comparing a scene from the movie Home Alone with a picture from his 2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony—a reunion of sorts.

It absolutely broke my heart reading this message recently. Someone shared with me the last words they said to their mother, and it was just…raw. ‘Mom, I really thought we had more time. I wanted to just be with you, to sit and talk. I heard what you were saying, but I had so much left unsaid. I love you, and I’ll see you later.’ It’s a powerful reminder to truly cherish those moments with the people we love, and to say everything we need to, because you never know when it might be too late. It really stuck with me, and I wanted to share it as a gentle nudge to connect with your loved ones today.

Many other stars also shared their respects. Pedro Pascal, who acted with O’Hara in the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us, was among them.

He shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, writing about how much he appreciated someone special. He expressed deep gratitude and sadness, saying the world feels dimmer without them, but they will always be remembered. He finished the post with a heart emoji.

Justin Theroux, a fellow actor in the new Beetlejuice movie, posted a picture of Catherine O’Hara’s chair from the set, which had her name on it. He wrote a heartfelt message saying he would miss her dearly.

Director Ron Howard, who collaborated with Catherine on the 1994 movie The Paper, described her death as ‘devastating news.’ He remembered her as a truly wonderful person, talented artist, and enjoyable colleague.

I had the privilege of working with her as a director, producer, and fellow actor, and I was continually impressed by her growing talent. I’m sending my deepest condolences to Bo and her family.

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2026-01-31 01:53