Vancouver natives Michael Bublé and Seth Rogen were among many paying heartfelt tributes to beloved Canadian icon Catherine O’Hara, who passed away Friday at the age of 71.
“Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Bublé shared in an emotional social media post. “Catherine O’Hara was one of a kind—a rare light in this world. Her passing carries a weight I can’t fully put into words.”
According to her agency, CAA, O’Hara—who was born in Toronto—died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
Beyond her extraordinary talent and lasting impact on the arts, Bublé highlighted O’Hara’s deep pride in her Canadian roots. The two-time Emmy Award winner, he said, represented Canada with brilliance and grace throughout her career.
“She wasn’t just a legendary artist, actor, and comedian,” Bublé wrote. “She was an ambassador for Canada in the truest sense—fearless, deeply original, and filled with humanity. She made the world laugh, but she also made people feel seen.”
O’Hara’s career spanned more than five decades. She first rose to prominence on the groundbreaking Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television, earning her first Emmy Award. She went on to star in iconic films including Beetlejuice and Home Alone and Home Alone 2.
She became a staple of Christopher Guest’s ensemble films, appearing in Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. O’Hara also lent her voice to Tim Burton’s animated classic The Nightmare Before Christmas.
A new generation of fans fell in love with O’Hara in 2015 when she took on the unforgettable role of Moira Rose in CBC’s Schitt’s Creek. Her flamboyant, wig-loving performance earned her a second Emmy Award and solidified the character as one of television’s most iconic creations. She starred alongside longtime collaborator Eugene Levy, as well as Dan Levy and Annie Murphy.
More recently, O’Hara appeared in the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us, filmed in Vancouver, and delivered a memorable performance in Rogen’s award-winning series The Studio, portraying a legendary Hollywood executive facing sudden obscurity.
Rogen also shared his grief online, calling O’Hara “the funniest person I’d ever seen on screen.” He credited Home Alone with inspiring his love of filmmaking and described working with her as a true honor.
“This is just devastating,” Rogen wrote. “We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.”
The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal also paid tribute, writing, “There is less light in my world. This lucky world that had you will keep you, always.”
Catherine O’Hara is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, their sons Matthew and Luke, and her siblings. Her legacy—as a trailblazer, a national treasure, and a source of joy to millions—will endure for generations.