Daijiworld Media Network - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, Jan 31: Emmy-winning actor Catherine O’Hara, celebrated for her iconic comedic performances spanning several decades, passed away on Friday at the age of 71.

The Canadian-born actor died at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness, according to a statement issued by her agency, Creative Artists Agency. Further details were not immediately disclosed.

O’Hara was widely loved for portraying Kevin’s anxious mother in the Home Alone film series and for her unforgettable role as Moira Rose in the hit television show Schitt’s Creek, which earned her an Emmy Award and global acclaim.

Her career began in the 1970s at Toronto’s famed Second City theatre, where she first collaborated with Eugene Levy, a partnership that would last a lifetime. Both went on to become part of the original cast of the influential sketch comedy show SCTV, which also launched the careers of several prominent Canadian comedians, including Martin Short and Andrea Martin.

While best known for comedy, O’Hara also earned praise for her dramatic performances. Her role in HBO’s The Last of Us fetched her an Emmy nomination, as did her recent performance as a Hollywood producer in The Studio.

She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.