Michael Keaton has publicly mourned the passing of his close friend and Beetlejuice co-star, Catherine O’Hara, reflecting on their decades-long friendship and collaboration. The actor shared his feelings on Instagram, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of O’Hara, who died suddenly in early 2026 after a brief illness.
Keaton paid tribute to O’Hara by recalling their history before the original Beetlejuice film and described her various roles in his life, both on and off-screen. He also acknowledged the grief of O’Hara’s husband of 33 years, Bo Welch, underscoring the emotional weight of the loss.
We go back before the first ‘Beetlejuice,’
Keaton reflected via Instagram Friday as he shared a recent photo of the pair.
She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her. Thinking about [Bo] as well,
he concluded in his touching tribute, referring to O’Hara’s husband of 33 years, Bo Welch.
Longstanding Collaboration and Impact on Popular Culture
Catherine O’Hara and Michael Keaton first worked together under the direction of Tim Burton in the 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice, where O’Hara played Delia Deetz and Keaton was the title character. The film’s unique dark humor has since achieved enduring popularity, inspiring multiple Broadway productions between 2019 and 2026, where O’Hara was honored by the cast.
The duo reunited on screen in subsequent films such as The Paper (1994) and Game 6 (2005), playing a married couple in the latter. More recently, Keaton and O’Hara came together again for the long-anticipated Beetlejuice sequel released in 2024.
O’Hara expressed her excitement about working closely with Keaton in the follow-up, marking the first time she had an intimate scene with him rather than group appearances from the original movie.
I had a little two-person moment with Michael as Beetlejuice. I’d been in the first movie in group scenes with Michael, but in this, I had an actual moment where the two of us just,
she told People.
And it was just so crazy and thrilling, really to just be face-to-face with Beetlejuice. He looks the same. Beetlejuice has aged very well.
Michael Keaton also shared the care that went into ensuring the sequel honored the original and met expectations.
We thought, ‘You got to get this right. Otherwise, just don’t do it. Let’s just go on with our lives and do other things,’
he explained.
So I was hesitant and cautious, and he was probably equally as hesitant and cautious over all these years,
Keaton continued.
Once we arrived, I said, ‘OK, let’s just go for it. Let’s just see if we can do it, if we can pull this off.
The Circumstances Surrounding Catherine O’Hara’s Passing
O’Hara died on a Friday in early 2026 after a short illness, according to a statement released by Creative Artists Agency (CAA). The actress, aged 71, was known to have a rare medical condition called dextrocardia, where her heart was positioned unusually on the right side of her body. The specific cause of death was not disclosed.
On the morning of her passing, O’Hara was rushed in serious condition to a hospital in Los Angeles but could not be saved, as confirmed by Los Angeles Fire Department officials. Her last public appearance took place in September 2025 at Apple TV+’s Primetime Emmy Party, where she celebrated her show The Studio alongside comedian Seth Rogen.
Public and Celebrity Tributes to Catherine O’Hara’s Legacy
Following the news of her death, many celebrities expressed their grief and admiration for O’Hara’s talent and generosity. Seth Rogen, who worked with O’Hara on The Studio, posted a heartfelt message on Instagram celebrating her influence on his career and her comedic brilliance.
Really don’t know what to say… I told O’Hara when I first met her I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen,
Rogen shared.
‘Home Alone’ was the movie that made me want to make movies. Getting to work with her was a true honor. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous… she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it,
he added.
Other actors, including Macaulay Culkin and members of the Home Alone cast, also paid their respects, reflecting on O’Hara’s significant impact on both their personal lives and the entertainment industry. Tim Burton, who directed Beetlejuice, described her as a “special” artist whose loss is deeply felt.
O’Hara’s Family Plans a Private Celebration of Life
O’Hara’s family has announced plans to hold a private memorial to honor her life and legacy following her unexpected death. This intimate gathering will provide loved ones the opportunity to celebrate her contributions to film and television while mourning her loss away from the public eye.
Her passing marks the end of an era for a beloved performer whose career spanned decades and left an indelible mark across stage and screen. For Michael Keaton and others fortunate enough to work with her, her friendship and talent will be remembered with profound respect and affection.
