Catherine O’Hara dies at 71; Apple TV cancels promotional event for new film

Apple TV has canceled a scheduled press day for its series “The Studio” following the death of Emmy-winning actress Catherine O’Hara.

O’Hara died Friday at her home in Los Angeles at age 71 after a brief illness. The promotional event was originally slated to take place Tuesday in Santa Monica, but Apple TV notified the press of the cancellation on Friday afternoon.

A two-time Emmy winner, O'Hara was widely celebrated for her iconic roles in “Schitt’s Creek,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Home Alone.”

She earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as studio executive Patty Leigh in the first season of “The Studio.” Production on the show’s second season began earlier this month, and O’Hara had been set to reprise her role.

In a joint statement, Apple TV and Lionsgate called O’Hara an “undeniable legend” and an “incomparable talent.”

Tributes from the cast, crew, and producers followed the news of her passing. Co-star and co-creator Seth Rogen shared an emotional tribute to the actress on Instagram.

The passing of Catherine O’Hara represents a significant loss for the global entertainment industry, marking the end of a career that defined modern comedic performance. From her portrayal of the matriarch in the "Home Alone" franchise—which remains a cornerstone of cultural intellectual property—to her Emmy-winning turn as Moira Rose in "Schitt’s Creek," O’Hara demonstrated a rare capacity for cross-generational appeal, successfully pivoting from legacy cinema to the prestige streaming era.

Beyond her artistic legacy, O’Hara’s sudden death creates an immediate strategic vacuum for Apple TV+ and the production of "The Studio." With production on the second season recently underway, the streaming platform faces a critical operational impasse. O’Hara’s role was not merely foundational to the narrative arc; it was a primary driver of the series’ critical pedigree and Emmy-nomination potential. Producers now face a high-stakes decision-making process: initiate a comprehensive script overhaul, attempt the nearly impossible task of recasting a character uniquely tied to O’Hara’s specific performance profile, or suspend the project indefinitely.

The outpouring of tributes from industry peers, including series lead Seth Rogen, underscores O’Hara’s standing as both a creative heavyweight and a stabilizing force within the industry. Her professional legacy is defined by a rare technical versatility—the ability to balance high-concept satire with profound emotional resonance—leaving a void in the market for talent capable of bridging that stylistic gap.

For many Vietnamese Americans—especially those who grew up in the 90s—Catherine O’Hara is a household name. Most of us first met her as Kate McCallister, the mother in the holiday classic Home Alone, a film that remains an essential piece of our childhood nostalgia every December. Recently, her role as the iconic Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek has helped her find a whole new audience, winning over younger fans across the community.