Catherine O'Hara's Candid Remarks On The 'Darkness In Life' Resurfaces Following Death

A day following the death of Catherine O’Hara, an old interview from her "Beetlejuice" era is resurfacing, and her words are now resonating with renewed depth. O’Hara died Friday at the age of 71. Hours after the news was made public, it was confirmed that she passed away “after a brief illness.” News of Catherine O’Hara’s death has sent fans and Hollywood alike digging through her past interviews and performances, with one message standing out loud and clear. As many know, her humor was never about escaping life, but about facing it head-on. Catherine O’Hara repeatedly spoke about comedy as a way to confront life’s darker moments, a mindset that now feels strikingly personal in light of her passing.

While promoting "Beetlejuice," O’Hara reflected candidly on life’s darker realities and the role humor plays in helping people navigate them. “Life is dark. There’s a lot of darkness and scary stuff in life,” she said at the time. “It’s hard to grow up, and it’s hard to be a grown-up, to deal with life. But… being able to find a way to laugh at the darkness in life is just the best gift we could be given.”

After hearing her words, fans flooded the comments, writing things such as "RIP our millennial mom for us 90s babies," and "I bet she laughed till the very end. What a gift she gave us all."

Another fan chimed in with, "Rest in Peace to such a light in this world," as someone else expressed, "It feels as losing my favorite Aunt."

Additional details surrounding O’Hara's death were later shared by the Los Angeles Fire Department. A spokesperson told PEOPLE that emergency responders were dispatched to O’Hara’s home at approximately 4:48 a.m. on Friday for an “approximately 70-year-old” woman. The individual, believed to be O’Hara, was transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition.

According to LAFD dispatch audio, the person at the residence was experiencing breathing difficulties at the time of the call.

The news of O’Hara’s death has hit Hollywood hard, with friends and colleagues expressing shock and heartbreak.

Macaulay Culkin, who played her on-screen son, Kevin McCallister, in the holiday classic "Home Alone," shared a deeply emotional tribute on Instagram, alongside side-by-side photos of himself and O’Hara, one from the film and another taken in 2023.

“Mama. I thought we had time,” Culkin wrote. “I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you, but I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”

More tributes from Hollywood’s biggest names have continued to roll in, including one from actor Michael Keaton, who shared a brief but devastating message on X, writing, “Only one Catherine O’Hara, and now none. Heartbreaking.”

Pedro Pascal, who worked alongside O’Hara on HBO’s "The Last of Us," also posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two together on set.

“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful,” Pascal wrote. “There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always [red heart emoji].”

O’Hara made her final public appearance just four months before her death, stepping onto one of Hollywood’s biggest stages.

The actress last appeared publicly at the Emmy Awards on September 14, 2025, where she attended alongside her longtime husband, Bo Welch. O’Hara was a double nominee that night, earning recognition for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for "The Last of Us," as well as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for "The Studio."

Just days later, O’Hara made another notable appearance in September 2025 while accepting a lifetime achievement award at the Toronto International Film Festival, a moment that celebrated her decades-long impact on film and television.

An exact cause of death has yet to be confirmed.