Chilling 911 Call Details Catherine O’Hara’s Breathing Struggle Before Hospitalization

Catherine O’Hara was taken to the hospital early Friday morning after a medical emergency at her home in Los Angeles. She later died at the age of 71, according to a statement from her agency, CAA, which said she passed away after a brief illness.

The incident happened at her Brentwood home around 4:48 a.m. First responders arrived after receiving a call for medical help. Dispatch audio first reported by media outlets stated that the actress was having trouble breathing before help arrived.

The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that paramedics transported a woman in her early 70s to a nearby hospital in serious condition. She was pronounced dead a few hours later, according to CAA.

An LAFD spokesperson said the department responded to a medical aid request and rushed the patient to the hospital as quickly as possible. No further medical details were released.

O’Hara had not been seen in public for several months. Her last major appearance was at the Emmy Awards in September. Some viewers noted at the time that she looked frail on the red carpet. She was also absent from the 2026 Golden Globe Awards on January 11, despite being nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Studio.

Tributes began pouring in shortly after news of her death became public. Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in Home Alone, shared an emotional post on Instagram. Alongside photos of them together years apart, he wrote, Mama. I thought we had time. 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.

Pedro Pascal, who worked with O’Hara on the second season of The Last of Us, also shared a message online. Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always, he wrote.

Justin Theroux, her co-star in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, posted a photo of her empty on-set chair and wrote, Oh Catherine. You will be so so missed.

In recent years, O’Hara was enjoying another high point in her career. She earned strong praise for her role in Seth Rogen’s Apple TV+ series The Studio and she also had a guest role as a therapist in season two of HBO’s The Last of Us. She also appeared in Argylle and returned as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in 2024.

Born in Toronto in 1954, O’Hara first became famous on SCTV, where she worked closely with Eugene Levy. She later starred in films like Best in Show and became a new fan favorite as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, a role that earned multiple Emmy wins. She is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew and Luke.

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