Catherine O'Hara's off-screen love story began with a quiet crush and a director's intervention.

Most of us knew Catherine O'Hara as an actress; from the determined Kate McCallister in Home Alone, to the chaotically charming Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek.

But, to her loved ones, she was something else entirely: a wife, a mother, a sister, and a friend.

News of O'Hara's death, aged 71, hit headlines on 31 January 2026.

As the world mourns her on-screen legacy, O'Hara's husband, Bo Welch, is grieving for his life partner of over three decades.

Their story began in 1987, as a workplace romance.

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Welch was working as a production designer for Tim Burton's Beetlejuice when he met O'Hara, who played Delia Deetz in the cult classic.

For the coworkers, the sparks were instant, but it was Burton was got the ball rolling.

"I was grouching to Tim Burton about how this guy was talking to me all the time and never asking me out," O'Hara told InStyle in January 2018. "We had a break between filming in Los Angeles and on location, and in that time, Tim told Bo that he should ask me out."

She continued: "Our first day of shooting at the house was the day that Bo finally asked me out, so that's what I see when I look at the scenes we shot there," she added. "Matchmaking Tim Burton!"

Welch, an Oscar-nominated production designer, is best known for his work on Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, Men in Black, and, of course, Beetlejuice.

His work in 1985's The Colour Purple earned him his first four Oscar nominations.

The designer has also dipped his toe in the directing pool, with films like 2003's The Cat in the Hat and episodes of A Series of Unfortunate Events, for which he received an Emmy nomination.

Catherine O'Hara and Bo welch attend 21st Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards. Image: Getty Images

After filming for Beetlejuice wrapped, O'Hara moved to LA to be with Welch.

The two wed in April 1992.

Shortly after, they started their own family, with their oldest son Matthew born in 1994, and their younger son, Luke, being born in 1997.

Despite the high-profile nature of both of their jobs, Both O'Hara and Welch made a conscious effort to keep their personal lives relatively private, including keeping their sons out of the limelight.

Though the few times O'Hara spoke about her children publicly, it's clear they have taken after her comedy chops.

"They're very funny, and we encourage it," she told The Star in 2007, "The older one does Warners cartoon bits, really old-fashioned, cheap-a–funny vaudeville stuff. And the little one does world play."

Catherine O'Hara and Bo Welch attend 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Image: Getty Images

Of course, over three decades, O'Hara and Welch experienced their fair share of challenges.

"We've been through some dangerous times in our marriage, and thank God we both just really wanted to work on it and stay married," O'Hara shared with PEOPLE in January 2024.

"I have friends who've been divorced and one of them really wanted to work on it and the other didn't. And you just can't win. You can't do anything that way. But thank God we both wanted to, when we went through rough times."

Catherine O'Hara and Bo Welch and their family attend The Cat in the Hat Premiere in California. Image: Getty Images

In a full circle moment, at the 2024 UK premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, O'Hara reflected on how she and her husband met on that very set 37 years prior.

"It's really exciting to be here with my husband who designed the first Beetlejuice," she proudly told The Upcoming.

Welch also previously described his memoires of Beetlejuice as "very fond," while speaking to UPROXX.

"Not to mention, I met my wife, who was in it," he said.

The designer has not yet released a public statement in the wake of O'Hara's death.

But the actress' Schitt's Creek co-star Karen Robinson said she was "heartbroken for [O'Hara's] family and all circles of her friends and loved ones."

"Oh Canada — what a loss," Robinson said. "Thank you, Catherine, for everything you gave us before you left us. So much and so timeless that a part of you will always stay with us."

Feature Image: Getty