Beloved for her iconic maternal roles on screen, Catherine O’Hara was just as devoted a mother in her personal life. The late actress shared two sons, Matthew and Luke Welch, with her husband, production designer Bo Welch.
The iconic star passed away on January 30 at age 71, as confirmed by Variety.
Here is what to know about her children, told through five fast facts that reflect the family-centered life she held closest.
1. Matthew and Luke Welch Were Born Three Years Apart
GettyAfter O’Hara and Welch married in April 1992, they welcomed their first son, Matthew, in 1994.
According to reports, he grew up in Toronto, Canada. His father has Dutch, English, French Canadian, German, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh roots, while his mother is of Irish descent.
Three years later, the couple expanded their family with the birth of their second son, Luke, in 1997.
Despite being raised by two well-known figures in Hollywood, the brothers largely grew up outside the public spotlight.
2. Family Always Came First for O’Hara
Despite her long career, O’Hara repeatedly said motherhood guided her professional choices.
In a 2019 interview with 519 Magazine, she explained how she balanced work and parenting.
“I’ve always…In deciding what work I might get involved in for my whole working life, my family’s always come first,” she said. “I have two sons, and when they were babies, I thought what’s the point? What’s the point of having children if I’m not going to be with them, so that was always number one consideration and always will be.”
3. They Work Behind the Scenes in Hollywood
Matthew and Luke found their own paths within the entertainment industry, choosing to work behind the scenes rather than in front of the camera.
Both built careers in set design and construction, following the creative side of the business that their parents knew well.
In a 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, O’Hara said that “Schitt’s Creek” became something of a family collaboration, with one son working as a set dresser and the other helping with set construction.
She later confirmed during a February 2024 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live” that one of her sons was also part of the crew on “The Last of Us.”
“My son’s a set dresser on the show,” she told host Andy Cohen.
Speaking to The Toronto Star in 2007, Catherine shared that her sons, Matthew and Luke, were already showing signs of carrying forward the family’s comedic spirit. She said humor was encouraged at home and came naturally to both boys.
“They’re very funny, and we encourage it,” Catherine happily said. “The older one does Warners cartoon bits, really old-fashioned, cheap-ass funny vaudeville stuff. And the little one does word play.”
She added that laughter had always been central to her family life, both growing up and as a parent. “I’m proud to say, we all make each other laugh. In my home, growing up. I learned that from my parents. They made each other laugh to the end, God bless ‘em. How great is that?”
4. They Prefer Life Away From the Spotlight
Although Matthew and Luke work within the Hollywood industry, both have chosen to keep their personal lives largely out of the public eye. O’Hara rarely spoke about her sons in interviews, and they made only occasional appearances alongside her as adults.
One of the few early public moments came in October 1994, when O’Hara and Welch attended the opening party for Tim Burton’s photo exhibit, “The Museum of Unnatural History,” bringing along infant Matthew.
5. A Real-Life ‘Home Alone’ Moment Once Happened
O’Hara became synonymous with maternal chaos after playing Kevin McCallister’s mother in “Home Alone,” and years later, she found herself in a moment that felt eerily familiar.
In a January 2024 interview with People, O’Hara recounted a family trip to New York City when a subway mix-up briefly separated her from her sons.
“We turned around, the doors are closing, and they just weren’t on,” she said. “I screamed and people screamed with me. Everybody joined in.”
Although the situation was quickly resolved, the fear lingered long after the moment passed. “It makes me sick to think what could have happened,” she added.
Her family life offers us a rare glimpse into how closely O’Hara’s most iconic on-screen motherhood mirrored the real-life devotion and worry she carried as a parent.
