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Catherine O'Hara Dies at 71; Actress Had Rare Condition
31 Jan
Summary
- Beloved actress Catherine O'Hara passed away at 71 in Los Angeles.
- She was last seen publicly in September 2025, appearing frail at the Emmys.
- O'Hara had a rare congenital condition called situs inversus.
Acclaimed actress Catherine O'Hara, celebrated for her iconic roles in "Schitt's Creek" and "Home Alone," has passed away at 71. Her agency confirmed her death occurred at her Los Angeles residence on Friday, attributed to a brief illness.
O'Hara's final public appearance was at the Emmy Awards in September 2025, where she seemed frail. The specific nature of her illness remains undisclosed.
It is known that O'Hara lived with situs inversus, a congenital condition affecting approximately one in 10,000 people, causing major organs to be in mirror-reversed positions.
She rarely discussed the condition, having discovered it incidentally during a tuberculosis test. Despite the organ transposition, situs inversus often does not impact health or lifespan, though it can be associated with other defects.
Doctors do not treat situs inversus itself, as organs function normally. Any co-occurring symptoms stemming from related defects are managed medically. Most individuals with situs inversus live full, healthy lives.
