Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death has been revealed just over a week after her passing at the age of 71.
The Canadian-American actress, known for her roles in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, died on January 30 after being rushed to a Los Angeles hospital in a critical condition.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed she had died from a pulmonary embolism, where a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, according to TMZ.
The outlet also reported that rectal cancer was an underlying cause of the clot and that she was cremated.
Following the actress’ death, her agency said she had died of “a brief illness” in a statement to media.
It has been reported that many of O’Hara’s closest friends were “kept in the dark about her condition” during her final days.
Tributes poured in from fellow co-stars including Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in the Home Alone series.
“Mama. I thought we had time,” Culkin wrote in a social media post after her death.
“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.”
Schitt’s Creek co-creator Dan Levy, actor Richard E Grant, and Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau also paid tribute to the “beloved Canadian icon”.
The actress built a career in TV and film after rising to fame on the Canadian sketch comedy show Second City Television.
She had a career resurgence when she starred as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek from 2015-2020, a role which earned her multiple awards including a Golden Globe.
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their sons, Matthew and Luke.
Image: Shutterstock
