Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara died from a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as the underlying cause. Photo / Getty Images
Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara died from a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as the underlying cause. Photo / Getty Images
Canadian comedy actress Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death has been revealed, 10 days after she died in Los Angeles at the age of 71.
TMZ reports that the actress died from a blood clot in her lungs, as noted in a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office report obtained bythe outlet.
The report lists O’Hara’s immediate cause of death as pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as the underlying cause.
The much-loved star’s January 30 death (local time) shocked fans worldwide, and she had been working steadily until she died. But she had also sparked concerns over her health with some of her final public appearances.
O’Hara looked dramatically thinner than fans were used to seeing her when she appeared at the Emmy Awards in September – and looked even more frail in what was to be her final public appearance, at the Angel Awards in Los Angeles the next month.
A guest at that ceremony told the Daily Mail that the actress “looked very slender”, adding: “It was noticeable”.
“Her face was almost gaunt, but she still looked very pretty,” the insider added. “She is a striking-looking woman – and she had a touch of glam going on. She hid her figure in a bulky green pinstriped suit.
“She seemed to be in great spirits, however, and was very friendly and upbeat and lovely.”
Sudden, drastic weight loss is a common symptom of rectal cancer.
Catherine O'Hara looked markedly different at the Emmys in September. Photo / Getty Images
According to TMZ, O’Hara suffered a medical emergency at her Brentwood, Los Angeles home early on January 30 (local time), with dispatch audio revealing she was having difficulty breathing.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that it had responded to a call at O’Hara’s property at 4.48am (local time) before transporting her to the hospital in a “serious” condition.
Hours later, she died.
As well as the medical issues that caused her death, O’Hara suffered from situs inversus – an extremely rare condition in which all of a person’s organs appear on the opposite of their body than what is the norm.
It’s typically considered harmless but can cause complications with diagnosis when it comes to future medical issues.
The beloved comedic actress and two-time Emmy winner is survived by her husband of 33 years, production designer Bob Welch, and their sons, Matthew Welch, 31, and Luke Welch, 29.
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