Catherine O'Hara died from a pulmonary embolism

After a week of unclear reports, the L.A. County Department of Public Health released Catherine O’Hara‘s death certificate earlier today, per TMZ, citing a pulmonary embolism as the immediate cause of death, with rectal cancer as the underlying cause. A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that blocks blood flow to an artery in the lungs, according to the Mayo Clinic. O’Hara was under the care of an oncologist for cancer since March 2025, AP reports, with her last appointment occurring on January 27. On January 30, the L.A. Fire Department reported that O’Hara had been rushed to the hospital that morning in serious condition and was reportedly having trouble breathing. O’Hara died later that day, with outlets previously reporting that she died from “a brief illness.” Her cause of death went unreported until today. She was 71.