Heartbreaking Loss: Inside the Private World of Catherine O’Hara’s Two Sons, Matthew and Luke Welch

The entertainment world is still reeling from the sudden passing of beloved comedy icon Catherine O’Hara on January 30, 2026, at the age of 71. The Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone star died at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness, leaving behind her devoted husband of over three decades, production designer Bo Welch, and their two adult sons, Matthew and Luke Welch.

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Catherine O’Hara made final public appearance at a party for the Emmys

O’Hara, whose razor-sharp wit and unforgettable characters brought joy to millions, was fiercely protective of her family life. She and Welch, whom she met on the set of Tim Burton’s 1988 classic Beetlejuice, built a loving, low-key home away from the Hollywood spotlight. The couple tied the knot on April 25, 1992, in a quiet ceremony, and soon welcomed their sons into a world blending creative chaos and deep familial bonds.

Their eldest son, Matthew Welch, arrived in 1994, making his unwitting red carpet debut as an infant at a Tim Burton art exhibition in West Hollywood that October. A rare photo from the event shows a beaming O’Hara cradling baby Matthew while standing alongside Welch, capturing the pure joy of new parenthood.

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Catherine O’Hara’s family: Meet late actress’ husband Bo Welch and …

Three years later, in 1997, the family grew with the birth of Luke Welch. Born just as O’Hara’s career was soaring with roles in films like Best in Show and the Home Alone sequels, Luke completed the tight-knit quartet. The boys were raised with a strong sense of privacy—O’Hara often joked about shielding them from the fame that defined her own life.

In a poignant 2020 interview with Variety, O’Hara reflected on how motherhood transformed her acting: “It’s great to play a realized mother because it is one of the most important roles in life.” She emphasized balancing her blockbuster career with being present for her children, once telling a Canadian magazine that having babies made her rethink priorities: “What’s the point of having children if I’m not going to be with them?”

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Catherine O’Hara Said the Role She Wanted to Be Remembered for Was …

The Welches’ family outings were rare but memorable. One standout moment came in 2003 at the premiere of The Cat in the Hat, directed by Bo Welch. Photos from the event show O’Hara in a bold leopard-print coat, smiling radiantly with her husband and their two young sons, who sported festive red-and-white scarves. It was one of the few times the boys appeared publicly, highlighting the family’s occasional foray into the limelight on their own terms.

Following in their parents’ creative footsteps, both Matthew and Luke have carved quiet careers behind the camera in Hollywood. They worked on sets for projects including their mother’s acclaimed series Schitt’s Creek, with credits in set dressing and construction. Sources close to the family say the brothers shared a deep bond with O’Hara, often collaborating on professional endeavors while cherishing private family time.

One heartwarming anecdote that has resurfaced since her passing involves a real-life “Home Alone” scare. O’Hara once recounted how she and Welch momentarily lost track of one of the boys in a crowded place—a frantic moment that echoed her on-screen panic as Kevin McCallister’s forgetful mom. “We had our own little Home Alone moment,” she laughed in interviews, turning potential chaos into a cherished family story.

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Meet Catherine O’Hara And Husband, Bo Welch’s 2 Children, Matthew …

O’Hara’s marriage to Bo Welch was the anchor of her life. The Oscar- and Emmy-nominated production designer, known for visionary work on films like Edward Scissorhands and A Little Princess, was introduced to O’Hara by Tim Burton himself, who played matchmaker on the Beetlejuice set. Their enduring partnership—marked by mutual respect, shared creativity, and unwavering support—lasted 33 years.

In recent years, the couple was spotted at events like Emmy parties, radiating happiness in matching formal attire. Their final public appearance together, just weeks before her death, showed them laughing and relaxed, a testament to their unbreakable connection.

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Catherine O’Hara’s final appearance with husband Bo Welch in …

As tributes pour in from co-stars like Eugene Levy, Dan Levy, and Macaulay Culkin—who called her his “forever mom”—the focus remains on O’Hara’s most treasured role: mother to Matthew and Luke. The brothers, now in their late 20s and early 30s, are navigating profound grief alongside their father in private.

Family statements indicate they plan an intimate celebration of her life, honoring her wish for reflection over spectacle. O’Hara’s legacy lives on not just in her iconic roles as Moira Rose or Kate McCallister, but in the two young men she raised with love, humor, and quiet strength.

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How Catherine O’Hara’s family plans to honor her after her death

Catherine O’Hara’s sons may have stayed out of the spotlight, but her profound influence on them—as a devoted parent and inspirational figure—ensures her spirit endures. In a world that adored her on screen, Matthew and Luke knew the real magic: the warmth of the woman who was, above all, their extraordinary mom.