Who Is Catherine O'Hara's Husband Bo Welch? All About Him And Their 1st Meeting Amid Her Death At 71

Hollywood is still trying to come to terms with the loss of Catherine O'Hara, who was admired for her roles in Schitt's Creek, Home Alone, and Beetlejuice. The actress has passed away at 71 following what has been described as a "brief illness" by her agency. Amid the continuous tributes being shared by her co-stars and fans, the attention has also turned to the man who shared more than three decades of her life, her husband, acclaimed production designer Bo Welch.

Who is Catherine O' Hara, Husband, Bo Welch?

Bo Welch is a celebrated name in Hollywood art direction. He is an Oscar-nominated production designer best known for shaping the visual worlds of films such as Edward Scissorhands, Men in Black, and A Little Princess. Over the years, he also worked on Batman Returns, Thor, and Apple TV's Schmigadoon!. Bo made his directorial debut in 2010 with The Cat in the Hat and later directed episodes of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Has once spoken to Below the Line and UPROXX about how production design is a lifelong puzzle of color, texture, and imagination.

Catherine O'Hara and Bo Welch 's love story

But beyond the sets and awards, Bo's most cherished story began in Catherine in 1988 on the set of Beetlejuice. She was playing the eccentric Delia Deetz, while Bio had been hired by director Tim Burton to design the film's surreal visual world. Recalling the moment she later told InStyle, she had a quiet crush on him. It was noticed by Tom and eventually during the filming in Los Angeles and Vermont, he prompted to finally ask her out beginning their love story. 

Apart from the awards and achievements, their first date changed everything. Catherine admitted to The New Yorker in 2019 that she moved to Los Angeles for him. She explained that she loves him and they tied the knot on April 25, 1992, and went on to welcome two sons, Matthew in 1994 and Luke in 1997. Despite leading a private family life, Catherine has occasionally shared humorous parenting memories, including a near Home Alone moment when she and Bo briefly lost sight of their sons on a New York subway.

Catherine and Bo's relationship was often described as playful and deeply supportive. During Catherine's virtual acceptance speech at the 2021 Golden Globes for Schitt's Creek, Bo sat beside her, comically playing applause and wrap-up music from his phone. The clip went viral, capturing the easy humor in their marriage.

What has caused Catherine O'Hara's death?

The cause of Catherine O'Hara's death remains unclear. According to the Creative Artists Agency, she died following a brief illness at her home in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026. Page Six reported that emergency responders transported her from her Brentwood residence to a nearby hospital in serious condition. But before she could reach there, she lost her battle for life. Meanwhile, no other official medical reason has been released.

However, a journalist, Jeff Sneider, posted on X that she had reportedly been receiving treatment for cancer in Toronto. However, this claim remains unverified because neither her family nor her representatives have confirmed the same. Some reports suggest that she had contracted COVID-19 in 2025 while filming The Studio, and she lived with a rare congenital condition called situs inversus, but there is no confirmed link between it.

Rest in peace. Catherine O'Hara.

Next Read: What Caused Catherine O'Hara's Death? Here's What We Know About Actress' Final Days At 71

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