Catherine O’Hara’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie granddaughter, Jenna Ortega, has reacted to her death at 71.
“Catherine is one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever had the honor of getting to work with and know,” Ortega, 23, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, February 1. “I’ll forever cherish the time we shared together, and everything she taught me.”
She continued, “A giant and inspiration in many ways. One of the greats. Thank you so much for it all.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Friday, January 30, that O’Hara died following a brief hospitalization and undisclosed illness.
“Prolific multi-award-winning actress, writer and comedian Catherine O’Hara died today at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness,” O’Hara’s agency, Creative Artists Agency, wrote in a statement. “A private celebration of life will be held by the family.”
Among O’Hara’s most iconic film and TV credits was her memorable role as Delia Deetz in 1988’s Beetlejuice and its 2024 sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. In Tim Burton’s original film, Delia and Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones) move into a haunted house with their daughter, Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), where they cross paths with a deceased couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) and a rambunctious spirit named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton).
O’Hara, Ryder, 54, and Keaton, 74, all reprised their roles in Burton’s recent sequel. Ortega joined the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice cast as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid Deetz.
“Tim [Burton] was just so excited and enthusiastic about doing it, and that was infectious,” O’Hara told Parade in September 2024 of reprising her role. “Everybody jumped in, and we kept saying, ‘Do you believe we’re doing this?’ And to see Michael’s face for the first time as Beetlejuice! Like, his character doesn’t have to age because he was always dead.”
Despite her excitement to step into Delia Deetz’s shoes once again, the Schitt’s Creek alum still found the task daunting.
“It’s 35 years later, I’m probably the oldest cast member, and I let myself age naturally,” O’Hara explained to the outlet. “So, I’m going on camera playing the same person, but that was also the lovely part. It was lovely to think about where these characters are now.”
O’Hara is survived by husband Bo Welch, whom she famously met on the set of the first Beetlejuice, and the couple’s two sons.
“He’s a production designer. It’s a lovely memory,” O’Hara told Parade of meeting Welch, 74. “My husband and I love to laugh. We’d laugh 50 times a day if we could. Even when we have a fight, we’ll somehow say something to make fun of the other person, so you just have to laugh at the ridiculousness of us.”
After O’Hara’s death, several of her Beetlejuice costars shared emotional tributes of their own in honor of their late costar.
“We go back before the first Beetlejuice,” Keaton wrote via Instagram on Friday. “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.”
Director Burton, 67, also offered his condolences via social media.
“Catherine, I love you,” Burton captioned an Instagram photo from the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice set. “You were a special part of my life and after life.”
