Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death was a pulmonary embolism

Catherine O’Hara’s death, was a pulmonary embolism 

The Los Angeles County death certificate shows that Catherine O’Hara’s immediate cause of death was a pulmonary embolism — which is when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, cutting off critical blood flow and oxygen. A pulmonary embolism can be sudden and life-threatening, often without clear warning signs. 

The death certificate also lists rectal cancer as the underlying condition that contributed to her passing. According to reports, her oncologist had been treating her since March 2025, and she was last seen by her doctor just days before her death. Although her passing was initially described by representatives as occurring after a “brief illness,” the certificate clarifies the medical circumstances. 

O’Hara died on January 30, 2026, at a hospital in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 71. She had been taken to the hospital after emergency services were called to her home early that morning. 

The death certificate notes that she was cremated, and her remains were given to her husband, Robert “Bo” Welch.