Catherine O'Hara Dies at 71 After Brief Illness

Catherine O'Hara, the acclaimed Canadian-American actress, comedian and writer known for her iconic roles in "Schitt's Creek," "Home Alone" and "Beetlejuice," died Friday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 71.

Her manager confirmed the death to multiple outlets, stating that O'Hara passed following a brief illness. Further details about the cause were not immediately disclosed.

O'Hara's five-decade career began in the mid-1970s at Toronto's Second City Theatre, where she honed her improvisational skills alongside future stars like Eugene Levy, John Candy and Martin Short. The ensemble launched the sketch comedy series "Second City Television," or SCTV, which aired in Canada starting in 1976 and gained U.S. syndication in 1981. For her writing on the show, O'Hara earned her first Primetime Emmy Award in 1982, along with four nominations.

She transitioned seamlessly to film, earning acclaim for dramatic and comedic roles alike. In Martin Scorsese's 1985 thriller "After Hours," she showcased her versatility, followed by parts in Nora Ephron's 1986 romantic comedy "Heartburn." O'Hara became a household name as Kate McCallister, the harried mother in the 1990 holiday classic "Home...