Entertainment
Catherine O’Hara, star of Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, dies at 71
Catherine O’Hara, the beloved Hollywood and television star whose career spanned decades and generations, has died at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy defined by fearless comedy, warmth and remarkable versatility. Best known to global audiences as the frazzled but unforgettable mother in the Home Alone films and the flamboyant Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara remained creatively active and deeply admired until the very end of her life.
True to her lifelong dedication to her craft, O’Hara was working almost until her death. Just last year, she starred in Seth Rogen’s critically acclaimed Hollywood satire The Studio, where she played Patty Leigh, a long-serving studio boss whose firing at the start of the series sets the story in motion. The role once again showcased O’Hara’s ability to balance sharp satire with humanity, as Patty later reinvents herself as a successful producer behind some of the industry’s biggest hits.
Beyond her iconic turn as Kevin McCallister’s overwhelmed mother in Home Alone, O’Hara carefully built a zany, self-aware persona that became one of the most delightful fixtures in Hollywood. With roots in improvisational comedy, she brought spontaneity and intelligence to every performance. Whenever the Canadian star stepped onto an awards-show stage, even the most jaded viewers could expect something memorable.
One standout moment came during the socially distanced 2020 Canadian Screen Awards, when O’Hara joked about “enjoying the great indoors” and delivered her acceptance speech from home. Fully committing to the gag, she played herself off with music — then continued singing her speech to the tune, embodying the eccentric charm fans had come to adore, particularly through her portrayal of Moira Rose.
That same year, when she won the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy, O’Hara celebrated the chance to portray “a woman of a certain age — my age — who gets to fully be her ridiculous self.” Appearing from a Toronto viewing party during Covid restrictions, she turned a virtual ceremony into an intimate, joyful moment. The following year, her reunion onstage with Schitt’s Creek co-stars Dan Levy, Eugene Levy and Annie Murphy was warmly received, especially as the group lovingly teased Eugene Levy in front of a global audience.
O’Hara continued to steal the spotlight in later years. At the 2024 Emmy Awards, she memorably delayed presenting an award by asking, “Must we really choose one winner?” before theatrically ripping up the envelope. At the Oscars that same year, she reunited with her Beetlejuice co-star Michael Keaton to present the make-up and hairstyling awards, joking that “the last thing we want is for anyone to know what we actually look like or the squalor in which we actually live.”
Her partnership with Seth Rogen also extended beyond The Studio. Last year, the pair presented together at the Golden Globe Awards, delivering a rambling, self-aware routine about Canada’s imaginary awards shows that ran long but earned plenty of laughs, particularly for its affectionate digs at Americans and the excesses of awards culture.
In The Studio, O’Hara’s Patty Leigh shone brightest during an episode set entirely at the Golden Globes, where her character effortlessly schmoozed a room full of Hollywood stars and power brokers. The performance earned O’Hara a Golden Globe nomination earlier this month, and she is also nominated for best female comedy performance at the forthcoming Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards). That honour, now awarded posthumously, carries a bittersweet poignancy.
Catherine O’Hara’s death marks the loss of a rare talent — an actress who embraced age, absurdity and reinvention with joy, and who consistently elevated every project she touched. While she is gone, the laughter she created, the characters she embodied and the generosity she brought to her art ensure that her presence will continue to be felt, celebrated and cherished for many years to come.
A 35-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after gunfire was directed at the Beverly Hills home of global pop star Rihanna, according to police in Los Angeles.
Authorities identified the suspect as Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, who is currently being held with bail set at $10.2m (£7.6m). Officers responded to reports of gunfire at the singer’s mansion in Beverly Hills at about 13:15 local time (21:15 GMT) on Sunday.
According to reports from the Los Angeles Times, the suspect allegedly fired multiple shots from a vehicle using an AR-15-style rifle toward the property.
A law enforcement source told the newspaper that Rihanna was inside the house at the time of the shooting, but fortunately no one was injured in the incident. Police have not yet confirmed a motive for the attack.
Investigators later located the suspect’s white Tesla roughly eight miles (12km) away at the Sherman Oaks Galleria shopping centre, where Ortiz was taken into custody.
Authorities said the suspect is originally from Orlando, Florida, according to reports from a Fox News affiliate in Tampa.
Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, recently welcomed her third child. In September last year, the Barbados-born singer gave birth to a daughter, Rocki, with her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky.
The couple also share two sons, Riot and RZA. They publicly revealed Rihanna’s third pregnancy during the 2025 Met Gala.
Earlier that same year, A$AP Rocky was found not guilty in a trial where he had been accused of firing a gun at a former friend. Rihanna attended court proceedings during the case and even brought the couple’s two sons with her.
The singer first rose to international fame in the early 2000s with hit songs such as Pon de Replay and Umbrella.
A nine-time Grammy Awards winner, Rihanna recently marked 20 years since the release of her debut album. Beyond music, she has built a successful business empire, including the cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty and a popular lingerie line.
According to Forbes, the 37-year-old star’s net worth is estimated to exceed $1bn, making her one of the wealthiest entertainers in the world.
Britney Spears has been arrested in California on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The pop star was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol at around 21:30 PT (05:30 GMT) on Wednesday. Authorities later released her in the early hours of Thursday morning. She is expected to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on 4 May.
Officials from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in Southern California confirmed the news.
A representative for Spears described the incident as regrettable and said the singer intends to take responsibility and cooperate with the legal process.
They added that Spears plans to comply with the law and hopes the situation can mark the beginning of positive changes in her life.
“Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life,” the statement said. “Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”
The representative also noted that Spears will be spending time with her sons while her family and close supporters work on a plan aimed at supporting her well-being.
News of the arrest coincided with the apparent deletion of Spears’ Instagram account on Thursday.
Spears remains one of the most successful figures in modern pop music. Her career includes major hits such as …Baby One More Time, Toxic, Everytime, Gimme More, Womanizer, and Stronger.
In January 2024, Spears said she would “never return to the music industry.” Her most recent release was a 2022 collaboration with Elton John.
However, in a social media post earlier this year that was later deleted, Spears hinted that while she did not plan to perform again in the United States, she hoped to return to live shows in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Spears’ life has been closely followed by the public, particularly after her 13-year conservatorship ended in 2021. The legal arrangement had placed control of her finances and many personal decisions under the authority of her father.
In 2023, the singer published her memoir, The Woman in Me, where she reflected on her rise to fame and described the challenges she faced while living under the conservatorship.
Her former husband, Kevin Federline, also released a memoir titled You Thought You Knew at the end of 2025, offering his own perspective on their relationship and the events surrounding Spears’ life in the public spotlight.
Alan Cumming has issued a public apology following controversy at this year’s BAFTA Film Awards, describing the ceremony as a “trauma-triggering” debacle after an incident involving an involuntary racial slur during the broadcast.
The backlash arose after a Tourette’s campaigner shouted a racial slur while two Black actors were on stage. The remark was audible.
In a post on Instagram, Cumming apologised for the harm caused. “I’m so sorry for all the pain Black people have felt hearing the word echoed around the world,” he wrote. He also expressed regret that the Tourette’s community had been reminded of what he described as widespread misunderstanding and intolerance surrounding the condition.
Cumming added that the situation reflected failures in decision-making, citing the broadcasting of a slur and the censorship of free speech. He said the only positive outcome might be a renewed awareness that “words matter” and that trauma should be recognised and respected.
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