Catherine O'Hara's Private Health Battle Left Friends and Colleagues in the Dark
The sudden death of beloved actress Catherine O'Hara has reportedly left many of her closest friends and colleagues in complete shock, as they were kept unaware of her brief illness during her final days. The Schitt's Creek and Home Alone star passed away at her Los Angeles home at the age of 71, with her cause of death currently unclear but following what has been described as a brief illness.
Friends and Neighbours Unaware of Her Condition
According to reports, many of those closest to O'Hara and her husband, production designer Bo Welch, were kept in the dark about her health struggles. The Daily Mail has revealed that this secrecy left some friends in complete shock upon learning of her passing. Her neighbour of over 25 years, retired physician Paul Herman, stated he had no knowledge of any mystery illness, though he noted he hadn't seen her in the Brentwood neighbourhood for years.
Despite this, a source close to the actress shared that O'Hara was in great spirits just weeks before her death, having been spotted at SUR Restaurant in West Hollywood. She looked healthy for a 71-year-old, the source remarked, though O'Hara managed to avoid any photographs during the outing.
Professional Commitments Affected by Health Issues
The actress's health concerns reportedly impacted her professional commitments in her final weeks. O'Hara was noticeably absent from last month's Golden Globes ceremony, where she was nominated for her role in Seth Rogen's series The Studio. More significantly, she was forced to miss the start of filming for season two of the Apple TV Plus series just days before her death.
Production insiders revealed that The Studio began filming last week with O'Hara expected to appear in early scenes, but those plans were quietly changed due to personal matters. It was not widely known she was dealing with any health or major issues, a source told The Sun, adding that the schedule was reworked to focus on scenes without her character.
Emergency Response and Medical History
Following news of her death, an LA Fire Department spokesperson confirmed they responded to a request for medical aid at 4:48am on Friday. A brief 911 audio recording appeared to reveal dispatchers referring to O'Hara having difficulty breathing.
The actress had previously disclosed that she was diagnosed with situs inversus, a rare genetic condition where major internal organs are positioned on the mirror opposite side of the body. However, this condition is generally considered harmless and is not believed to be related to her death.
A Celebrated Career and Personal Life
O'Hara's death has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with a production insider describing her as the most beloved person on the set. This is a huge loss not just for The Studio, but for the world in general. She's a legend, they added.
Born in Toronto, Canada, O'Hara enjoyed a career spanning over 50 years, earning numerous accolades including:
- Two Emmy Awards
- One Golden Globe
- Two Screen Actors Guild Awards
Her notable roles included performances in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and Schitt's Creek, with more recent appearances in Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events and HBO's The Last of Us.
O'Hara is survived by her husband of 33 years, Bo Welch, whom she met on the set of Beetlejuice, and their two sons, Matthew (31) and Luke (29). The family will hold a private celebration of her life in due course.
