Legendary actress Catherine O'Hara has died, aged 71.

Canadian actress Catherine O'Hara, who starred in Schitt's Creek and Home Alone, has died at 71.

The actress's representatives confirmed the news of her death on Friday, January 30.

According to a brief statement from O'Hara's representation, the Creative Artists Agency, she died "following a brief 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 is survived by her husband Bo Welch and sons Matthew and Luke, along with siblings Michael O'Hara, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Maureen Jolley, Marcus O'Hara, Tom O'Hara, Patricia Wallice," the statement says.

The family will hold a private celebration of life, the statement concludes.

Page Six reports the Los Angeles Fire Department was called to O'Hara's home around 4.48am on Friday (11.48pm AEDT). Dispatch audio from paramedics shared that O'Hara was having difficulty breathing.

An official cause of death has not been revealed.

Catherine O'Hara. Image: Getty.

O'Hara previously shared she was born with a rare genetic condition, situs inversus, where her heart and major internal organs were mirrored on the opposite side of her body.

The condition was discovered more than 20 years ago when she went to the doctors with her husband.

"I love Western medicine, I just don't want to be a part of it. But I had to get a TB test when our youngest was in co-op nursery school and I went to my husband's doctor and he said let's do some baseline tests, and one of them was an EKG," she told winemaker Kathryn Hall via a Virtual Happy Hour.

"[The doctor] calls us into his office and says 'You're the first one I've met!'

"When the doctor told us that my heart was on the right side and my organs were flipped, my husband immediately said 'No, her head's on backwards.'"

Watch: How the world was introduced to the iconic Moira Rose. Post continues after video.

Tributes flow for beloved star.

The two-time Emmy-winning comedian was widely recognised for her roles as Macauley Culkin's mother in the first two Home Alone films, Moira Rose in the hit series Schitt's Creek, and Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice.

Culkin has shared a touching statement on the news of O'Hara's death.

"Mama. I thought we had time," Culkin wrote in an Instagram post.

"I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you.

"I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I'll see you later."

Dan Levy, who starred alongside O'Hara in Schitt's Creek, wrote that she was "family."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Levy (@instadanjlevy)

"Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family. It's hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her.

"My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and every member of her big, beautiful family."

Pedro Pascal, who starred with O'Hara in The Last of Us, also penned a beautiful tribute.

"Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always ," Pedro Pascal, he wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two of them on set.

O'Hara was born in Toronto in 1954 and was the second youngest of seven children.

Feature image: Getty.