Death certificate names pulmonary embolism as immediate cause

A Los Angeles County death certificate says Catherine O’Hara died from a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer listed as the underlying cause. The document records that the actor died on January 30 at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica at age 71 and that she was cremated.

The oncologist who signed the certificate indicated he had been treating O’Hara since March of last year and last saw her on January 27. According to reports, O’Hara died within hours of the onset of symptoms.

Who she was and the reaction to her death

O’Hara was a Canadian-born comic actress whose five-decade career included “SCTV,” the “Home Alone” films and the hit comedy “Schitt’s Creek.” She won multiple awards for her work, including an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role as Moira Rose. In 1982 she earned a prime-time Emmy for writing on “SCTV.”

Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from collaborators and co-stars. Macaulay Culkin wrote on social media, “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more,” referencing their “Home Alone” relationship. Martin Short, performing the night she died, called her “the greatest, most brilliant, kindest, sweetest angel that any of us worked with.”

What is a pulmonary embolism and why it’s serious

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Cleveland Clinic says this is a medical emergency because it disrupts blood flow and oxygen levels in the lungs. Reports say O’Hara died within hours after symptoms began.

Medical context listed on the certificate

• Immediate cause: Pulmonary embolism (blood clot blocking a lung artery).
• Underlying cause: Rectal cancer.
• Last medical contact: Oncologist had last seen O’Hara on January 27; she died on January 30.
• Disposition: The certificate notes she was cremated.

Legacy and final notes

O’Hara’s signature scream of “KEVIN!” in the “Home Alone” films and her scene-stealing turn as Moira Rose will remain widely remembered. The certificate’s release clarified the medical causes behind a death that many found sudden. Her representatives had initially said she died “following a brief illness.” Tributes from colleagues and fans poured in after news of her passing.

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