Ten days after the sudden and shocking passing of comedy legend Catherine O'Hara, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has released her official cause of death, shedding light on a private health struggle the actress kept hidden from the world.
O'Hara, 71, died on January 30, 2026, from a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs), according to the death certificate released Monday. However, the report also listed rectal cancer as the underlying cause, revealing that the Schitt's Creek and Home Alone star had been quietly battling the disease for nearly a year.
A Silent Struggle
According to medical records, O'Hara had been under the care of an oncologist since March 2025. Despite her diagnosis, she continued to work, recently starring in the Apple TV+ series The Studio and earning accolades for her dramatic turn in The Last of Us. Her ability to keep her condition private has left friends and fans stunned.
"She didn't want the world to worry," a source close to the family told reporters. "She just wanted to make us laugh until the very end."
Tributes Pour In
The revelation of her secret battle has sparked a new wave of tributes from her co-stars. Macaulay Culkin, who played her on-screen son Kevin McCallister, posted a heartbreaking update: "Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I love you."
Eugene Levy, her longtime collaborator from SCTV to Schitt's Creek, released a brief statement: "Catherine was the brightest light in any room. To know she was fighting this in silence breaks my heart, but her strength never wavered."
O'Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.
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