Catherine O'Hara faced 'breathing difficulty' before her death, 911 dispatch call reveals
BRENTWOOD, CALIFORNIA: Catherine O'Hara was hospitalized after she faced “breathing difficulty” in her final hours on January 30, as per 911 dispatch audio.
It has been said that the ‘Schitt's Creek’ star was at her home in Brentwood, California when she experienced the medical emergency before paramedics were called for help at five in the morning.
Catherine O’Hara had dextrocardia with situs inversus
She was then taken to the hospital in “serious” condition but could not be saved as she breathed her last hours later. The Canadian-American actress was 71.
A statement from Creative Artists Agency (CAA) read, “Prolific multi-award-winning actress, writer and comedian Catherine O’Hara died today at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.”
Reports have also said that O'Hara had a condition called dextrocardia with situs inversus — “rare heart condition characterized by abnormal positioning of the heart,” according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
However, the exact cause of death is yet to be revealed.
Comedic star had a dying wish
O'Hara is survived by her husband, production designer Bo Welch, of over three decades along with their two sons, Matthew Welch, 32, and Luke Welch, 28.
The ‘Home Alone’ actress was known for her jolly nature and she knew how to make people laugh.
More than a decade before her death, she had disclosed how she wanted to die and what her final moments should look like.
In a 2013 questionnaire for Vanity Fair, she shared that she wanted to die “laughing” while “surrounded by my old grandchildren, who are telling me to ‘let go, already, Grandma!’”
O'Hara had also revealed at the time that she wanted to take re-birth “in the body of a much more evolved person who has lovely, thick hair and skin that tans”.
Celebs call Catherine O’Hara 'one of a kind'
Meanwhile, her death has left her fans and closed ones heartbroken.
Her Studio costar Seth Rogen said in a statement, “I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen. Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies.”
“She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous… she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it,” Rogen added.
Macaulay Culkin, who played the role of her son in ‘Home Alone’ said, “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.”
“Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it. Catherine O’Hara was one of a kind. A rare light in this world and her passing hits with a weight I can’t fully put into words.My heart is broken for her family, her loved ones, and everyone who adored her, both here in Canada and around the world,” Canadian singer Michael Buble added.
Tributes also poured in from Pedro Pascal, Dan Levy, Michael Keaton, Tim Burton and Lea Thompson among others.
