Catherine O'Hara Revealed Her Ideal Way To Die 13 Years Ago

Catherine O'Hara disclosed how she would have loved her last scenes on earth to play out.

The Hollywood icon popularly known for her characters in "Beetlejuice," "Home Alone," and "Schitt's Creek," gave a glimpse into her personality, fears, and joys of life over a decade ago, during which she shared her thoughts on the prime way to die.

Catherine O'Hara passed away at the age of 71 on Friday, January 30, 2026, after a brief illness. Her death has left a void in the hearts of her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke Welch, as well as other entertainers in the industry.

O'Hara, in 2013, sat for an interview where she shared her thoughts and details surrounding her personality. She spoke about happiness, saying that her idea of perfect happiness is simply the absence of all forms of negativity.

When asked about her greatest fear, the actress gave deep boomer energy, saying that her greatest fear is that the internet and other witty inventions eradicate the concept of privacy.

The Hollywood star spoke of her faith when asked about reincarnation. She said she strongly believes God is into recycling. The only thing she would have loved to change about her body would be to have lovely, thick hair and skin that tans.

She also shared a character trait she had and would change, which was procrastination. Hinting at how seriously she procrastinates, she did not give the full answer but instead said "My procrastination," before pausing and saying, "Sorry, wait a minute."

Finally, after answering the series of questions, Vanity Fair shared her peculiarly witty answer to the way she would love to leave this world.

O'Hara revealed that she would love to die laughing, surrounded by her old grandchildren, who are telling me to "let go, already, Grandma!" Sadly, reality did not resonate with what the 71-year-old envisioned, as she did not have any grandchildren before her passing.

O'Hara was reportedly sick for a short while before it reportedly became serious. The Los Angeles Fire Department shared that they received reports of a woman in her early 70s experiencing breathing problems, and emergency response crews rushed to the residence.

The first responders were dispatched at 4:48 a.m. to the actress's L.A. home on that fateful morning, where they encountered respiratory complications at the scene. O'Hara was then transported to a hospital, reportedly in critical condition. The actual cause of death is yet to be confirmed.

Although the mom of two has lived with a rare heart condition from birth till adulthood, it has not been stated if the condition played a part in her illness or death.

The Blast reported that O'Hara battled with a heart condition known as dextrocardia with situs inversus, which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is a rare condition where the heart is positioned on the right side of the body rather than the left.

The news of the "Home Alone" actress's demise rocked Hollywood. A lot of actors, especially those who shared sets with her, were shocked by her passing. They took time to write tributes on social media reflecting on the moments they shared with O'Hara while she was alive.

Fellow "Home Alone" star, Macaulay Culkin, who played O'Hara's son in the Christmas movie classics, shared a heartfelt tribute to his on-screen mom.

He reflected on the bond they built both on and off screen, attached to pictures of them during their younger days and now. "Mama. I thought we had time," Culkin wrote, wishing they spent more time together.

Her "Beetlejuice" costar Justin Theroux also posted a tribute with an image of her on-set chair and name with the simple caption "Oh, Catherine. You will be so, so missed."

Pedro Pascal was not left out of the mix. Pascal worked with the award-winning actress on "The Last of Us." In his tribute, he peeked into the time they worked together, stating how thankful he was for the experience.

Culkin and O'Hara reunited in 2023 at Culkin's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, which O'Hara attended to give a speech. In her speech, the late actress praised the famous child actor for his brilliant work on the "Home Alone" films. 

She noted that Culkin was an integral part of the project and the reason the film remains a timeless piece, as many families all over the globe remain glued to the show. She went on to speak about his acting skills as Kevin McCallister, saying that he was a phenomenal actor.

The Blast shared that O'Hara described Culkin's personality as sweet, intelligent, and full of humor, stating that he made acting look so natural. She then congratulated him on his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, stressing how proud she was of her TV son, whom she left home alone twice.

Eugene Levy, who played the actress's husband on "Schitt's Creek," shared a statement expressing his grief at the news of her passing. The pair had collaborated on projects for years and had built a strong friendship over time. Levy said to US Magazine:

"Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today. I had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O'Hara for over fifty years. From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to SCTV, to the movies we did with Chris Guest, to our six glorious years on Schitt's Creek, I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship." 

He concluded by sending condolences and well wishes to her husband and sons, adding that he would miss O'Hara. The pair also worked together on other shows, including "A Mighty Wind" and "For Your Consideration," amongst others.

Levy previously revealed that their natural chemistry contributed to their long-time working relationship because playing couples came very easily to them. Their relationship began after meeting in 1972, and they admitted to dating briefly during their working relationship but ultimately decided to remain friends.

Rest In Peace, Catherine O'Hara!