Celebrity deaths

ERIC Dane has died aged 53 after a brave battle with ALS.

The Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria actor passed away with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and daughters Billie and Georgia by his side, his rep said in a statement on Thursday, February 19.

“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement began.

“He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. 

“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight.

“He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. 

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“The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”

SCARY DIAGNOSIS

Eric had been battling ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease, since early 2024, when he first began experiencing symptoms.

The star announced his diagnosis in April 2025, which quickly progressed to near full paralysis in the months before his death.

Eric had to bow out of multiple public appearances due to his worsening condition.

In January 2026, he withdrew from the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Cares gala just hours before the event began.

The TV star also missed his scheduled appearance at the Primetime Emmy Awards in September 2025 because of complications from the disease.

In December 2025, Eric shared an update on his health during a virtual panel for IAMALS.org.

At this point, the father of two had lost mobility in his arms, had noticeable changes in his speech, and was confined to a wheelchair.

“I have no reason to be in a good spirit at any time, on any given day,” an emotional Eric shared.

“I don’t think anybody would blame me if I went upstairs in my bedroom, crawled under the sheets, and spent the next two weeks crying.”

Despite his drastic health decline, Eric vowed to continue acting and that he wouldn’t give up fighting.

“I’m not about to concede my purpose for some disease. I just am not capable of doing that.

“I’m fairly limited in what I can do physically as an actor, but I still have my brain, and I still have my speech, so I’m willing to do just about anything.”

BRAVE FIGHT

In November 2025, Eric starred in an episode of the NBC medical drama Brilliant Minds, playing a firefighter living with ALS.

“The hardest thing for me to do was separate myself from the character because it was something that was so fresh and it was something that was so real to me,” Eric told the Daily Mail about the role.

“I’ve never played a character who’s going through something, and something that I’m dealing with in real time, in real life as well,” he continued.

“So, it was hard, and there were moments where it was very difficult for me to get the lines out. 

“But overall, I was really grateful for the experience. I found it to be a bit cathartic.”

Eric is also reprising his role as Cal Jacobs in the third season of Euphoria, which will premiere on HBO in April, after a four-year hiatus.

In late January, Eric received praise from his Grey’s Anatomy co-star, Patrick Dempsey, for his bravery since his brutal diagnosis.

“I do try to stay in touch and see how he’s doing. I think he’s been incredibly courageous in the face of this horrible disease,” Patrick told Parade in an interview.

He also said that he tried to get Eric on his new crime thriller series, Memory of a Killer, but his condition made it “virtually impossible.”

Eric is survived by his two children, Billie Beatrice, 16, and Georgia Geraldine 14, whom he shares with Rebecca.

The couple separated in 2018, but called off their long divorce once Eric received his diagnosis.

A YOUNG rapper signed has died days after releasing a new single, at just 25 years old.

Janarious Mykel Wheeler, known by fans as Lil Poppa, died at 11:23am on Wednesday, according to the medical examiner.

According to his Spotify profile Poppa began releasing music in 2017, when he was just a teenager.

When rumours of his death first circulated, fans flooded his social media begging for answers, however the young rapper’s cause of death is currently unknown.

At the time of his death Lil Poppa had more than 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and over 960 thousand followers on Instagram.

In a now-tragic final post shared on his Instagram story Tuesday night, Poppa appeared to be riding in a car as he listened to Letting it go by Rod Wave.

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Who was Lil Poppa?

Lil Poppa, was born in Jacksonville, Florida, where he first started rapping at church with a group of friends and his older brother.

And at just 12 years old Poppa built a makeshift studio in the closet of his bedroom and started recording his music using just a laptop and a Radio Shack mic.

His big break came in 2018, when his independently released single Purple Hearts hit 2.3 million views on YouTube.

Since then he has released several albums with his label Collective Music Group, which has signed other industry heavyweights like GloRilla.

What was Lil Poppa’s cause of death?

The Fulton County Medical Examiner in Atlanta, Georgia, announced the tragedy, but didn’t give a cause of death, TMZ reported.

According the a medical examiner, the young rapper’s time of death was 11.23am, but his cause of death is currently unknown.

Fans began expressing their concerns about rumours of his death online when the news first started spreading.

A distraught fan wrote: “poppa please say something this can’t be happening.”

What song made Lil Poppa famous?

Lil Poppa wrote songs about relationships, mental health, and love.

The artist was best known for his tracks including “Love & War,” “Mind Over Matter,” and “HAPPY TEARS”.

Just days before his death Poppa released a new single called “Out of Town Bae”.

“And I can’t change how I’m living, I ain’t got no feelings, I pour drank in my kidney, And it’s only for the healing” he sings in his most played song on Spotify, “Eternal Living”.

THE cause of death of Victoria Jones, the daughter of Hollywood legend Tommy Lee Jones, has been revealed after more than a month.

The 34-year-old was tragically found dead at a luxury San Francisco hotel in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Officials have now confirmed the former child star died from a cocaine overdose.

A harrowing 911 call came in to emergency services at 2:52am on January 1 saying a woman had suffered a suspected overdose.

Staff thought Jones had been drinking when they found her lying on the ground on the 14th floor of the ritzy Fairmont hotel.

She was spotted by a guest who thought she “might be drunk”, a source told The Daily Mail.

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Paramedics rushed to save her, but desperate attempts to revive her failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The initial investigation ruled out foul play and stated that there were no signs of drugs around the body.

Today, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in San Francisco announced that Victoria’s death was due to the “toxic effects of cocaine” and ruled it an accident.

Victoria Kafka Jones was the daughter of the actor Tommy and his ex-wife Kimberlea Cloughley, who divorced in 1996.

Her heartbroken family spoke out the day following her death, saying: “We appreciate all of the kind words, thoughts, and prayers.

“Please respect our privacy during this difficult time. Thank you.”

Victoria acted as a child, appearing in Men in Black II and later The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. 

She also made a one-episode appearance on One Tree Hill.

Although she stepped away from acting, Victoria still appeared with her father at public events.

In the year before her death, Victoria was arrested at least twice, court records show.

A police report was made in April last year by her husband, Navek Ceja, 44, who alleged she had been taking cocaine, the Daily Mail reports.

He claimed his wife had been using the drug over a 48 hour period while staying at his family’s luxury winery in Napa.

Cops arrived at the scene and said Jones was talking quickly and “was fighting with her body movements”.

She tried to fight away the officers and claimed the 911 call was a mistake, the report adds.

Jones later admitted to using cocaine and was taken to a local jail where officers found a white powder inside her coat.

She was charged with being under the influence of drugs, resisting arrest and possessing a controlled substance.

Two months later, Jones and Ceja reportedly got into a heated fight at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Sonoma.

Ceja, 44, told police that they got into an argument after he confronted her about her drug and alcohol use.

Jones allegedly slapped Ceja around the face twice.

Police were called and Jones was arrested and taken back to the Napa County Jail where she was charged with a misdemeanour domestic violence charge.

Both of the cases were never resolved with Jones due to be in court on the domestic violence count on January 20.

JAMES Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly renewed their wedding vows on his deathbed, just days before he passed away.

The iconic Dawson’s Creek actor, 48, sadly died last week after a cancer battle, leaving his friends, family and fans devastated.

Along with his wife, Kimberly, James is survived by their six children Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel, 10, Emilia, 8, Gwen, 6, and Jeremiah, 3.

Now his heartbroken wife has revealed how the couple renewed their vows shortly before he died.

Kimberly revealed they managed to quickly put together a small ceremony with the help of close friends and family.

Speaking to People, she said: “We decided two days beforehand, and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles, and we renewed our vows from bed.”

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Kimberly described the ceremony as “simple and beautiful and moving”.

In a sweet moment, musician Poranguí, a close friend of the couple, played Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

James and Kimberly met in 2009 and immediately fell in love.

Following a whirlwind romance they got married the next year, while they were expecting their first child.

Sadly, 16 years after their wedding, James had passed away.

Fans were left in shock when it was revealed by Kimberly and the actor’s family, that he had died after battling cancer.

The heartbreaking statement read: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.

“There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time.

“Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

The actor had been battling stage three colorectal cancer since 2024.

James spent the final years of his life advocating for early screenings to help spread awareness.

The actor got his start in small television roles on Clarissa Explains It All in 1993, As The World Turns in 1995 and Aliens in the Family in 1996.

He then scored the breakout role of Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek from 1998 to 2003 alongside Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams.

After finding success with the teenage drama, he went on to star in Varsity Blues in 1999, Scary Movie in 2000 and The Rules of Attraction in 2002.

He then had appearances on TV shows Criminal Minds in 2007, Ugly Betty in 2007, One Tree Hill in 2008, and Law and Order in 2011 and 2012.

Other appearances include How I Met Your Mother, CSI and Modern Family.

One of his final roles was on two episodes of Overcompensating in 2025.

James has won two MTV Movie Awards, one Teen Choice Award and other honors.

KATE Cassidy has posted a Valentine’s Day tribute to the late Liam Payne – declaring him her “best friend from afar”.

The social media star had been dating Liam for two years before his sudden death in October 2024 – and despite his passing, she makes sure to remember him on key dates.

This Valentine’s Day, Kate shared a never-before seen photograph of the pair in happier times.

The polaroid snap shows Kate sitting on Liam’s lap as they pose for the picture in somebody’s garden.

She simply noted: “Happy Valentine’s Day to my best friend from afar.”

Kate and Liam dated for from October 2022, through to the time of his death in October 2024. He was 31 years old.

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The One Direction star died after a horror fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, where he was due to attend his old bandmate Niall Horan’s show.

Kate had been holidaying with him in the country, but had returned to their home in Florida alone to look after their dog, Nala, just two days before the tragedy.

Kate has been left heartbroken by the loss, and continues to remember him by sharing photos, videos and memories on special occasions, including his birthday.

In February this year, Kate was seen in tears as she visited the UK home she once shared with the singer.

“I’ve been sitting outside of the house that I used to live in with Liam for the past 45 minutes just in my car and it’s just really hard to wrap my head around the fact that I’m not pulling in the driveway and going home to him being there,” she said.

“You really just never know what life is going to bring. Life can bring you plenty of happiness and plenty of joy, I’ve experienced it all.

“But I’ve never felt this much pain.”

When facing criticism for her public heartache, Kate hit back by reminding fans that he was a “real person in her life” and she can grieve how she wants.

In December last year, in retaliation to another fan who said they “wanted her to move on and stop talking about him”, she declared she will always love him.

Posting a video in tears, Kate said: “I want to make something clear. Whoever I end up with in my future will have to accept the fact I will always love Liam, I will always talk about Liam I will always laugh about Liam, I will always cry about Liam.”

She said she normally pays no mind to critical comments but this topic really riled her.

“Let me tell you something, Liam Payne was my boyfriend,” she continued. “He wasn’t just this famous figure to me. It hurts so bad because I am just criticized all the time for speaking about my boyfriend that passed away, the person that I loved and still do love.

“I would never settle for anyone in this lifetime who did not feel comfortable enough with me speaking about Liam.”

JAMES Van Der Beek’s heartbreaking last moments with close pal Alfonso Ribeiro shows the pair hugging with their heads touching.

Fresh Prince of Bel Air actor Alfonso shared the snap to his Instagram on Thursday, a day after the Dawson’s Creek star died aged 48.

Taking to Instagram, he revealed that he was by his friend’s side while in hospital shortly before his death.

“This was taken by Kimberly a few minutes before I said my last goodbye,” he wrote.

In the heartbreaking photo, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star is seen holding Van Der Beek’s head as he lies in bed.

The pair touch foreheads and have their eyes closed – with the sick Van Der Beek wearing a cream beanie pulled low.

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Their final moments together were filled with laughter, sharing, “My last moment was making him laugh one last time.”

A lengthier tribute on Ribeiro’s Instagram described Van Der Beek as his “true friend, brother and life guide” who will “live forever in my heart.”

He wrote: “I‘m so broken right now with the passing of my friend James Van Der Beek today.

“He was my true friend brother and life guide. I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer.

“His family and friends went on this roller coaster ride. The highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back.

“I’ve learned so much from James. He and Kimberly Van Der Beek changed my life. I will forever be in debt for all they’ve given me and my family.

“He will live forever in my heart. I will always be there for their children. I will always hold my role as Gwen’s Goddie daddy as one of the most important roles of my life.

“I love you James and know I have a guardian angel watching over me. Being able to say goodbye this weekend will always live with me. RIP my brother. RIP.“

Van Der Beek revealed his diagnosis publicly in November 2024, telling PEOPLE Magazine that he had been “privately dealing” with it and had been taking steps to resolve it.

“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,” he said at the time.

The TV and film star spent the last few years of his life advocating for early health screenings to help spread awareness, and even mentioned the importance of being proactive in the final video he posted less than one month before his death.

By the end of his life, the noughties heartthrob was physically weakened, but his mind remained resolute, and his wisdom moved his many friends and fans.

A source told the Mail: “James was on hospice for several weeks and he was rail thin when he passed.

“He was mostly in bed because he was very weak, and he was not eating.

“He was in hospice, they held his hand and were there for him, of course, but it has been hard because James was so ill, he was weak.

“He had so much charisma, he was a wonderful soul, and his presence is missed. Those poor little kids.”

Van Der Beek leaves behind his wife, Kimberly, and six children – Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12. Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four.

JAMES Van Der Beek made ‘no money’ from his starring role in Dawson’s Creek due to a clause in his contract about reruns of the hit series.

Actor James passed away on Wednesday following a two year battle with colorectal cancer.

Friends then set up a GoFundMe to support his wife Kimberley and their six children, who are said to be at risk of losing their home due to the cost of James’s medical bills.

James shot to fame in 1998 as lead character Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek.

Despite the show’s huge popularity – which has continued since it ended in 2003 – he previously confessed he makes no money from reruns or streaming deals.

Speaking to Today in 2012, James explained: “There was no residual money.

“I was 20. It was a bad contract. I saw almost nothing from that.”

Following James’s heartbreaking death, friends were quick to jump into action to support his wife and their children Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4.

A GoFundMe page was set up and donations have already surpassed $1 million.

The message on the account reads: “In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. 

“The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds.

“They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time. 

“The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.”

Following his diagnosis with cancer in 2023 James began working with Propstore to sell off his Dawson’s Creek memorabilia in order to cover his medical costs.

BUD Cort, best known for his role in the 1971 cult classic Harold and Maude, has died aged 77.

Writer and producer Dorian Hannaway, a close friend, said he died after “a long illness”.

A veteran of stage and screen, Cort appeared in more than 80 films and TV series across a career spanning five decades.

He became indelibly linked with his performance in Harold and Maude, Hal Ashby’s offbeat romance about a young man obsessed with death who falls in love with a free-spirited 79-year-old Holocaust survivor, played by Ruth Gordon.

Released in 1971, the film was initially a commercial and critical flop.

It later found a devoted following in repertory cinemas during the 1970s, cementing its status as a cult classic thanks to its dark humour and unlikely love story.

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“A young man obsessed with death falls in love with an old woman obsessed with life. She dies and teaches the kid how to live,” Cameron Crowe described it for AFI in 2011.

“And it’s done with music [by Cat Stevens] that scratches at your soul… that movie holds up – to this minute.”

Director Edgar Wright paid tribute to Cort’s work, calling him a “welcome and magnetic presence in every film lucky enough to have him”.

On his performance in Harold and Maude, Wright said: “Not only is this beloved film a pitch perfect black comedy-cum-love story for the ages, but Bud Cort delivers one of the greatest looks to camera in film.”

The role earned Cort nominations for a Golden Globe and a Bafta.

Born Walter Edward Cox in Rye, New York, in 1948, he later changed his name to avoid confusion with character actor Wally Cox.

He went to school in New Rochelle and developed an early passion for performance, appearing in school productions and frequently travelling into Manhattan to see Broadway shows.

Hannaway remembered him as a “passionate theatregoer” who would sneak off to Manhattan to see Broadway shows and wait at the backstage door hoping to catch a glimpse of Barbara Streisand after watching Funny Girl.

Roslyn Kind recalled meeting him as a teenager. “I was only fourteen when I met Bud at the backstage door at my sister’s play,” she said in a statement.

“He was majoring in art at the time in high school. We became close friends who shared our interest in entertainment.

“When I got married, Bud and our songwriter friend, Bruce Roberts, wrote a special song that was performed at the ceremony. His unique spirit will always be with me.”

Cort moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s to pursue film work.

He had a small role in MASH before being cast by Robert Altman in the title role of Brewster McCloud.

His co-star Sally Kellerman later recalled: “We were in the line for lunch when I spotted him.

“Although I didn’t know who he was, I said ‘Oh, boy. We’re going to be best friends.’”

He continued to work steadily, with supporting roles in films including Heat, Dogma, Coyote Ugly and Pollock, as well as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

On television, he appeared in series such as Arrested Development, Ugly Betty and Criminal Minds.

He also voiced Toyman in animated series including Superman: The Animated Series.

In 1979, Cort narrowly survived a devastating car accident that required multiple surgeries and affected his career.

He is survived by his brother Joseph Cox and sister-in-law Vickie, along with their daughters Meave, Brytnn, and Jesse.

He also leaves behind his sisters Kerry Cox, Tracy Cox Berkman, and Shelly Cox Dufour, and his many nieces and nephews.

A memorial will be held at a future date in Los Angeles.

GAUNT and thin after a long cancer battle, the trademark smile still shone through.

Actor James Van Der Beek was supposed to be there as the cast of Dawson’s Creek reunited for the first time in 22 years.

But his illness meant he could only appear in a short video for the assembled fans.

Yet for those there, and around the world, it meant everything.

The 48-year-old actor, who died yesterday after being diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in 2023, said the emotional reunion, which his wife Kimberly and their six children attended in his place, had been something he had been looking forward to during his gruelling treatment.

He told the audience at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York: “I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together.

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“I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.

“I wanted to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theatre for being here tonight.

“From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.”

Van Der Beek was the all American teenager long before he became the object of teenage desire in adolescent drama Dawson’s Creek.

The son of mobile phone executive James Van Der Beek and former dancer Melinda, he was a promising American footballer in Cheshire, Connecticut.

But a concussion at the age of 13 kept him off the playing field so he took up acting.

He landed the lead role in his school’s production of Grease playing Danny Zuko.

He never looked back.

By the time he was 15 he was begging his mother to get him an agent and they travelled to New York to secure a deal.

While studying at private boarding school The Cheshire Academy he started appearing in Broadway productions.

A brief stint at university in New Jersey quickly fell by the wayside as he started landing major roles and then, at the age of 20, the lead in the teen drama.

As Dawson Leery, a budding filmmaker with an on-off relationship with Joey played by Katie Holmes, he became a teen heart-throb and the spawn of countless memes.

In 122 episodes of the show he grew from a confused 15-year-old to a confused adult.

The show’s theme tune I Don’t Want To Wait followed him throughout his life and triggered memories of the teen frenzy that surrounded him.

He said: “If I was at karaoke and it started playing there’s a part of me – and I’m a f*****g grown-ass man with four kids – that still wants to go hide under the table.

“I was at a pharmacy in Philadelphia and it came on and I immediately went into a weird panic.

“I think it’s tied to the pandemonium that accompanied that, for which there was no off button.

“Walking around at that time was very tricky because one autograph could turn into a mob scene. So I walked around in fear of teenage girls.

“When I was first very famous and people were passing out and all that, I remember watching a Beatles documentary and George saying how people were looking for any excuse to go mad.”

Dawson, like James, grew up on the show and when it came to an end he struggled to find work.

His big TV comeback show, NBC medical drama Mercy, was cancelled.

Sitcom Friends With Better Lives, made by the people behind Friends and Frazier, was pulled off air after eight episodes.

“I was 33, I had my first kid, and I thought: OK, what doors are open right now?” he said. “And I was thinking, I’m having more fun doing comedy than I would crying every day!

“I look back and I’m grateful. But it was an exhausting six-year marathon.

“I was shooting movies or doing photo shoots when the show was on hiatus.

“I felt burnt out when it ended. I needed time to duck away and disappear, figure things out and grow up a bit.

“When I was 24 the character I played on TV was a teenager losing his virginity.”

James met the love of his life Kimberly in 2009 and married the following year.

Together they had six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel Leah, 11, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and four-year-old Jeremiah, known as Remi.

He said: “When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never all that fulfilling, and then I became a husband… it was much better and then I became a father… that was the ultimate.

“It just happened. We had one planned child – one out of six.

“One was 100% on purpose. The one thing we really sucked at was not getting pregnant. But thank God, honestly, because it’s such a struggle for people, and we really don’t take it for granted.

“I joke, and I laugh, but like, yeah, we really just kind of got lucky that way.”

He was always devoted to the show that made him a poster boy to girls around the world.

But, closer to home, he was reluctant at showing it to his own children for one very good reason.

He said: “It’s a great show, I love the show, I think other kids can watch it.

“I don’t think my kids need to watch their dad pretend to go through puberty. That’s my stance on it.

“It was a very well-intentioned show, people really trying to do the right thing and speaking incredibly eloquently about how they were trying to do the right thing.

“I think that seed of good intentions comes through.”

In November 2024, he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.

Last March he spoke about his fight with the disease on his 48th birthday, saying it had been the hardest year of his life.

He said: “I had to come nose to nose with death and all those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me.

“I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them.

“I could not be a provider because I wasn’t working.”

The reunion with his fellow cast members, in a charity gig for cancer research, was a beacon of hope in his darkest days.

Illness forced him to stay home but his message to fans was clear.

He said: “Everyone please enjoy all the love in that room. Shine some on my family.

“I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin.”

FOLLOWING the tragic news of actress Catherine O’Hara’s passing at the age of 71 following a short illness, her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin paid a touching tribute to his “mama”.

The two starred in the iconic film together back in 1990, where he played the mischievous Kevin McCallister  while she portrayed the role of Kate, his long-suffering mum.

They reunited two years later for the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and have continued to share a mother and son bond over the years.

The pair showed just how close they are when she honoured him at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2023.

As the world mourns the legendary actress, let’s take a look at her relationship with Macaulay and their extremely close bond…

Heartfelt Tribute

Macaulay was one of the first to pay tribute to the Schitt’s Creek star as he posted two pictures from Home Alone and the Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony on his Instagram.

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He penned: “Mama, I thought we had time.

“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,” the 45-year-old signed off.

Heartbroken Home Alone fans flocked to the comments section as one said: “Oh my god, I can’t believe it. Rest in peace Catherine. Thank you for taking care of Kevin.”

Another social media user penned: “A part of our childhood has been shattered today. Heartbroken.”

Hollywood Walk of Fame reunion

She attended his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in December 2023 and honoured him as he received his star.

Catherine gushed in her speech: “Home Alone was, is and always will be a beloved global sensation… the reason families all over the world can’t let a year go by without watching and loving Home Alone together is because of Macaulay Culkin.”

She went on to praise his professionalism and passion for acting, as well as bringing his “sweet and twisted yet totally relatable humour” to every project.

“Macaulay, congratulations. You so deserve your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“And thank you for including me, your fake mom who left you home alone not once but twice, to share in this happy occasion. I’m so proud of you,” she joked.

Mother and son bond

Despite it being more than three and a half decades since Home Alone released, the co-stars have continued to share a deep bond with one another.

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live! In 2015, she revealed the two had a sweet reunion at an art opening.

“He was coming out and he went, ‘Mommy!’ and I said, ‘Baby’,” Catherine told host Andy Cohen.

He also confirmed that he called her “mom” each time her saw her, proving their bond was unmatched.

Macaulay told New York Times in 2024: “She opens up her arms – she goes, ‘Son’.”

On-screen reunion

The much-loved duo delighted fans back in 2024 when they reunited on-screen for a Christmas ad for Freedom Unlimited alongside Kevin Hart.

Catherine was seen walking into a shopping mall before shouting out her iconic “KEVIN!” dialogue.

The co-stars shared a warm embrace, with Kevin joining in on the hug with the two.

Excited fans couldn’t believe their eyes as one gushed: “This is hysterical. I love these nostalgic commercials.”

Somebody else added: “So beautiful, a home alone reunion.”

Co-star chemistry

Macaulay and Catherine’s on-screen camaraderie translated off-screen, with many Home Alone fans believing they were actually mother and son in real life.

She recalled to Today in 2024: “A child came up to me, like, a little 8-year-old, in a mall. ‘Are you Kevin’s mom?’

“I said, ‘Well, yeah, I played Kevin’s mom in a movie, yes’.

‘Why did you leave him?’ ‘Sorry. It was in the script!’,” she remembered.

Speaking to PEOPLE back in 1990, when the film first released, Catherine described then 9-year-old Macaulay as ”a darling little guy who has been acting since he was 4, so he’s very professional.”

“He comes in knowing all his lines, knowing where to hit his marks — he even knows all the other actors’ lines.

“I expect he should become the head of the studio by the time he is 12,” she joked.

CHILLING dispatch audio has revealed screen legend Catherine O’Hara was “struggling to breathe” before she died early on Friday morning.

O’Hara, 71, best known for her roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and Schitt’s Creek, was reportedly rushed to a Los Angeles hospital in a serious condition.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to reports of a medical emergency after a 911 call was placed from her Brentwood home at 4.48am.

Dispatch audio obtained by PageSix revealed the actress was having difficulty breathing in her final moments.

Tragically, she passed away hours later in hospital.

A cause of death has not yet been confirmed, though her talent agency CAA said she suffered from a “brief illness” just before her death.

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O’Hara is survived by her husband of 33 years, Bo Welch, and their two sons, Matthew, 31, and Luke, 29.

Tributes to the comedy icon have begun to pour in from across Hollywood after her untimely death.

Macaulay Culkin, who starred as the actress’s son in the Home Alone films, remembered O’Hara as “mama” in a heartbreaking post on Instagram.

“Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you, but I had so much more to say,” Culkin wrote.

“I love you. I’ll see you later.”

O’Hara played Kate McCallister, the mother of Culkin’s character, Kevin, in the first two Home Alone movies.

Catherine O’Hara dead at 71

Iconic Home Alone actress Catherine O’Hara died on January 30, 2026. O’Hara was 71.

Biography:

• Catherine O’Hara, who was born in Toronto, Canada, began her acting career in comedy in 1974 after joining the cast of The Second City, which was televised in both Canada and the United States.
• O’Hara expanded her career in television in the mid-1970s, appearing in small roles on the CBC series Wayne and Shuster, the film The Rimshots, and the children’s series Coming up Rosie.
• She gained prominence in Hollywood in the 1980s, after she was cast in the classic horror-comedy film Beetlejuice.
• Starring alongside Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, and Winona Ryder, O’Hara portrayed Delia Deetz.
• In 1990, O’Hara starred alongside child actor Macaulay Culkin in the holiday blockbuster Home Alone.
• She reprised her role as Kate McCallister, the mother of the young troublemaker Kevin McCallister, portrayed by Culkin, in the film’s 1992 sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
• Both installments of Home Alone were massive hits at the box office, and to this date, remain among the most successful Christmas movies of all time.
• After the success of Home Alone, O’Hara continued to appear in several films throughout the 1990s, including the comedy-drama The Paper, Waiting for Guffman, and the Western film Wyatt Earp.
• O’Hara also had several voice artist appearances, including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Chicken Little, and Monster House, among others.
• She had a career resurgence in 2015 when she appeared as Moira Rose in the Canadian sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
• In 2025, O’Hara had a main role in the Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio.
• Throughout her career, O’Hara received various awards, including two PrimeTime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
• She had two children with her husband, Bo Welch, whom she met on the set of Beetlejuice.

AWAY FROM THE SPOTLIGHT

O’Hara skipped the Golden Globes on January 11, despite receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Performance by a Female Actor for her role in the Apple+ TV series The Studio.

It was not clear why she did not attend the ceremony.

She made her last public appearance on September 14, 2025, posing on the red carpet with Welch at Apple TV’s Emmys party in West Hollywood.

Days earlier, she was all smiles at a Toronto Film Festival party.

As The U.S. Sun exclusively reported on Friday, she was expected to film Season 2 of The Studio in mid-January, but did not appear on set.

O’Hara’s plans were changed at the last minute due to “personal matters,” a source claimed.

“She was scheduled to film, but they reworked the schedule to focus on scenes without her character,” the source said.

“It was not widely known she was dealing with any health or major issues.

“I don’t believe she ever filmed anything for season two,” the production insider claimed.

Catherine’s unexpected passing has sent shockwaves through the cast and crew of the Apple+ TV series, who were completely blindsided by the tragic news.

LONG, STORIED CAREER

O’Hara was born in Toronto, Canada, before moving to the United States.

Her career spanned more than 50 years, stretching across TV, movies, and sketch comedy.

She started out in sketch series Second City Television in the mid-1970s.

O’Hara won an Emmy as part of the show.

But she shot to superstardom in the beloved 1990 Christmas movie Home Alone, in which she played Kevin McCallister’s mother.

She remained close with onscreen son Macaulay Culkin, and supported the actor in 2023 at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.

Later in her career, she had a pop culture resurgence with smash hit comedy Schitt’s Creek, opposite her longtime friend Eugene Levy.

The show aired from 2015 until 2020, and earned O’Hara two Emmys for her role as eccentric former soap star Moira Rose.

She was featured in a documentary about late Home Alone co-star and close friend John Candy, which premiered in 2025.

O’Hara also stole scenes as heartbroken therapist Gail on The Last Of Us’ second season opposite Pedro Pascal.

Catherine O’Hara Tributes

Iconic actress Catherine O’Hara, who is best known for her role as Kate McCallister in the Christmas classic Home Alone, died on January 30, 2026. She was 71.

Tributes:

• Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin: Mama. I thought we had time. 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.”
• Home Alone co-star Devin Ratray: “One of the greatest people I ever met. It just doesn’t register. Bewildered and numb.”
• The Last of Us actor Pedro Pascal: “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. The one and ONLY #CatherineOHara.”
• Bravo host Andy Cohen: “Fell in love at first sight on SCTV and it only got stronger. Rest in Peace, Angel Catherine O’Hara.”
• Beetlejuice co-star Justin Theroux: “Catherine. You will be so so missed.”
• Comedian Tom Green: “I’m so sorry to hear the news that Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara has passed away at 71. She’s kept me and millions of others entertained throughout my lifetime – from her brilliant work on SCTV, to Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, Schitt’s Creek, and so many other films and television classics. Her characters brought so much joy and laughter to the world. It’s with a heavy heart that I share this today. Rest in peace, Catherine O’Hara — one of the greatest Canadian comedy icons of all time.”

CATHERINE O’Hara has died unexpectedly on Friday, months after her final appearance alongside her husband Bo Welch.

Fans are reeling following the announcement, which did not reveal the Schitt’s Creek star’s cause of death.

Catherine, 71 when she died, made her final appearance alongside her husband Bo back in September.

Photos show the couple dressed to the nines.

The Home Alone actress is wearing a black gown while her hubby sports a chic suit.

Her shoulder-length blonde hair was down with a slight curl in the ends.

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She wore subtle makeup, including a nude lipstick color.

Catherine appeared in good spirits during the evening out.

She and Bo posed for photos together.

At times, he stood behind her with his hands on her hips.

OUT OF SIGHT

Months later, Catherine was nominated for a Golden Globe award.

She was schedule to appear at the January 11 awards show, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Performance from a Female Actor for her role in the Apple TV series, The Studio.

Unfortunately, she did not attend.

RIP

TMZ broke the news of Catherine’s death on Friday afternoon.

Sources with direct knowledge confirmed the iconic actress’ passing to the outlet.

A cause of death was not immediately available for the star.

Catherine O’Hara dead at 71

Iconic Home Alone actress Catherine O’Hara died on January 30, 2026. O’Hara was 71.

Biography:

• Catherine O’Hara, who was born in Toronto, Canada, began her acting career in comedy in 1974 after joining the cast of The Second City, which was televised in both Canada and the United States.
• O’Hara expanded her career in television in the mid-1970s, appearing in small roles on the CBC series Wayne and Shuster, the film The Rimshots, and the children’s series Coming up Rosie.
• She gained prominence in Hollywood in the 1980s, after she was cast in the classic horror-comedy film Beetlejuice.
• Starring alongside Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, and Winona Ryder, among others, O’Hara portrayed Delia Deetz.
• In 1990, O’Hara starred alongside child actor Macaulay Culkin in the holiday blockbuster Home Alone.
• She reprised her role as Kate McCallister, the mother of the young troublemaker Kevin McCallister, portrayed by Culkin, in the film’s 1992 sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
• Both installments of Home Alone were massive hits at the box office and to this date remain among the most successful Christmas movies of all time.
• After the success of Home Alone, O’Hara continued to appear in several films throughout the 1990s, including the comedy-drama The Paper, Waiting for Guffman, and the Western film Wyatt Earp.
• O’Hara also had several voice artist appearances, including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Chicken Little, and Monster House, among others.
• She had a career resurgence in 2015 when she appeared as Moira Rose in the Canadian sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
• In 2025, O’Hara had a main role in the Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio.
• Throughout her career, O’Hara received various awards, including two PrimeTime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
• She had two children with her husband, Bo Welch, whom she met on the set of Beetlejuice.

While the exact cause of death has not been revealed, Page Six reported that she was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital in “serious” condition.

Paramedics were called the the actress’ home home at 4:48 a.m. on Friday morning, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson confirmed to the outlet.

She was in “serious condition” when she was transported to the hospital.

PAYING TRIBUTE

Tributes to the actress flooded social media almost immediately after her death was announced.

“RIP Catherine O’ Hara. I know John Candy greeted her with open arms.”, one fan wrote.

Another posted on X: “Catherine O’Hara was an absolute genius for the entirety of her career.

“She will be terribly missed.”

A third posted: “Catherine O’Hara will be remembered most as the mom in the first two Home Alone movies

“But I’ll always remember her as Delia Deetz in BeetleJuice. RIP to a legend.”

ICONIC ROLES

Throughout her long career in Hollywood, Catherine appeared in many iconic films and TV shows.

She was an actress for more than 50 years.

Catherine got her star in the sketch series Second City Television in the 1970s.

She’s known for starring in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone 2, Schitt’s Creek and more.

REGGAE legend Sly Dunbar, who performed with the likes of Bob Marley, Madonna and the Rolling Stones, has died aged 73.

The iconic Jamaican drummer, who also co-founded production duo Sly and Robbie, was found dead on Monday according to his wife.

The star played on tracks such as Bob Marley’s Punky Reggae Party and Dave and Ansell Collins’ classic hit Double Barrel.

But he was better known for his work as one half of iconic production team Sly & Robbie.

The duo produced popular tracks for industry giants including Bob Dylan, Grace Jones and Ian Dury, and reggae stars like Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru.

His wife Thelma told local media she found him unresponsive on Monday, before his death was also confirmed by his team.

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Sly, whose real name was Lowell Fillmore Dunbar, was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

He started out playing on tin cans – getting inspiration from Lloyd Knibbs and the Skatalites on television.

The star previously said in a 1997 interview: “I saw [Knibbs] playing and I thought, ‘I want to be a drummer’ because he’s the hardest worker in the band.

“He’s my idol! In some ways, I’m self-taught but I got a lot of help from other drummers by watching them play.”

When he was a teenager, he founded the rhythm section of the band the Revolutionaries alongside bassist Robbie Shakespeare, who died in 2021.

They became one of the most renowned backing bands in Jamaican reggae in the 1970s.

Sly became known for his shuffling “rockers” drum pattern, which put more emphasis on syncopation and energy.

Throughout the decade they also worked with major reggae acts like Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and Barrington Levy.

The rhythm section also toured in the US with Peter Tosh.

In the hopes of saving enough cash to found their own production team, the pair lived on bread and water during this period, according to legend.

They founded Taxi Records in 1980, before helping a whole new generation of Jamaican artists such as Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Skip Marley, Beenie Man and Red Dragon refine their art.

The pair also provided beats on Grace Jones’s hit 1981 album Nightclubbing.

This paved the way for them to work with some of rock and pop’s biggest stars – from Bob Dylan and Joe Cocker, to singers like Marianne Faithfull, Madonna and Sinead O’Connor.

Sly’s heartbroken wife told local media: “I went to wake him up and he wasn’t responding, I called the doctor and that was the news.

His exact cause of death is unknown, but he is understood to have been ill for an extended period of time.

“Yesterday was such a good day for him,” Thelma told Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper.

“He had friends come over to visit him and we all had such a good time. He ate well yesterday… sometimes he’s not into food.”

She added: “I knew he was sick… but I didn’t know that he was this sick.”

Tributes poured in for the late musician, with British DJ David Rodigan, calling him a “true icon” and “one of the greatest drummers of all time”.