Trending Now: Schitt’s Creek star Catherine O’Hara rushed to hospital hours before tragic death – Fans React

Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara, who starred in the popular TV show Schitt’s Creek and the hit movie Home Alone, has died at the age of 71 following a ‘brief illness’.

Actress Catherine O’Hara is reported to have experienced a ‘medical emergency’ and struggled with breathing difficulties shortly before her death at 71.

News of Catherine’s passing was confirmed last night, with her agency CAA stating she had died in Los Angeles “following a brief illness”. The announcement prompted an outpouring of tributes from celebrity friends and admirers worldwide.

Fresh details have now emerged regarding the star’s final moments, with reports indicating that emergency services were summoned to her Brentwood residence in Los Angeles before she was rushed to hospital and “listed in a serious condition”.

Hours later, the legendary actress was declared dead, according to TMZ. Page Six separately reports that Catherine was taken to a Los Angeles hospital in a “serious condition” where she subsequently passed away, reports the Mirror.

Paramedics are said to have been called to her property at 4.48am on Friday morning, with the star then transported in a “serious condition”. A 911 dispatch call, secured by the Daily Mail, reveals a dispatcher instructing first responders: “Engine rescue 19, breathing difficulty 575”.

An LAFD spokesperson confirmed to the publication: “At 4:48 am we responded to a request for medical aid to that address and transported an approximately 70-year-old female in serious condition.”

The actress was slated to commence filming for The Studio in January, with her sudden passing leaving the team shocked and heartbroken. It’s been reported that filming schedules were adjusted due to “personal matters”.

An insider revealed to The Sun: “She was scheduled to film, but they reworked the schedule to focus on scenes without her character. It was not widely known she was dealing with any health or major issues.”

Upon hearing of her death, a wave of tributes poured in from her celebrity friends and co-stars, including Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin, who portrayed her son Kevin in the popular movie series Home Alone. “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more,” he penned.

“I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”

Michael Keaton, who shared the screen with her in Beetlejuice, expressed: “We go back before the first Beetlejuice. She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her.”

Meryl Streep, who starred alongside Catherine O’Hara in the 1986 comedy Heartburn, expressed: “Catherine O’Hara brought love and light to our world, through whipsmart compassion for the collection of eccentrics she portrayed… such a loss for her family and friends, and the audience she graced as friends.”

Pedro Pascal, who shared screen time with Catherine in The Last of Us, penned his own tribute: “Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world; this lucky world that had you will keep you always. Always.”

Actress Rita Wilson shared: “Catherine O’Hara – a woman who was authentic and truthful in all she did. You saw it in her work, if you knew her you saw it in her life, and you saw it in her family. Bo, Luke and Matthew, our deepest sympathies. May Catherine rest in peace. May her memory be eternal.”

The statement confirmed that O’Hara leaves behind her husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke, and that her family will hold a private celebration of her life.