Hollywood legend Catherine O’Hara‘s death has shaken the entertainment industry. Variety confirmed that the award-winning actress breathed her last on January 30 at age 71 after what her representatives described as a brief illness.
While her cause of death has not been disclosed, she had previously been open about living with situs inversus, a rare congenital condition in which her internal organs were reversed.
O’Hara spoke about the condition with the same humor and candor, offering insight into her health without fear or self-pity. Here’s what to know about the rare condition.
What Is Situs Inversus?
As per NIH (National Institute of Health), Situs inversus is a rare congenital condition in which a person’s internal organs are arranged as a mirror image of the typical anatomy.
In O’Hara’s case, the diagnosis included dextrocardia, meaning her heart was positioned on the right side of her chest rather than the left.
Many people with situs inversus live full lives without symptoms or complications, though the condition can pose challenges, especially when the heart is involved or during medical procedures that rely on standard organ placement.
The likelihood of having this anatomy is exceptionally rare. Cleveland Clinic reported in 2022 that Situs inversus affects roughly 1 in 10,000 people and is statistically more common in males.
According to a report in The Guardian, O’Hara was part of a very small group, alongside other well-known figures such as Enrique Iglesias and Donny Osmond, who have also spoken about living with the condition.
O’Hara confirmed she had the condition during a 2021 interview, addressing it with her trademark candor and humor. “I’m a freak, yeah!” she said at the time.
How O’Hara Discovered Her Condition
O’Hara said she learned about having situs inversus almost by accident, after reluctantly joining her husband, Bo Welch, for tuberculosis tests ahead of one of their sons starting nursery school.
As part of the process, doctors ran routine baseline exams, including an EKG, before ordering additional imaging.
She later recalled being summoned into the doctor’s office, where the news was delivered with unexpected enthusiasm.
“He calls us into his office and says, ‘You’re the first one I’ve met!’ And it’s, ‘OK, I don’t even know the name, ’cause I don’t want to know the name.’ Something cardi-inversa. And then dexter-cardia-and-something-inversa.”
Reflecting on the moment, she added, “People are going to think I’m so ignorant not to know this, but I kind of don’t want to know. ’Cause I didn’t know before that.”
The revelation stayed with her. O’Hara later said it prompted her to think about her siblings, wondering whether they knew “where their hearts are.”
O’Hara’s “Am I Dying?” Joke From ‘The Studio’ Interview Now Feels Poignant
As per the LA Times, she once asked, almost playfully, “Am I dying or something?” during a lighthearted conversation less than a year before her death.
At the time, it landed as another moment of her signature wit and self-deprecation.
O’Hara’s remark came during a group interview with her co-stars from “The Studio,” as she reflected on feeling more powerful as an actor.
“This is how we wanted to tell you,” Seth Rogen joked, gesturing to a reporter from the Los Angeles Times. “This man’s actually a doctor. This is a fake interview.”
The room erupted in laughter, a familiar scene for anyone who knew O’Hara’s storytelling style. Humor was her way in. It was also how she navigated moments that might otherwise feel heavy.
That sense of vitality made the announcement of her death especially jarring. O’Hara had also been notably absent from the Golden Globes on January 7, despite being nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series for her role as Patty Leigh.
How O’Hara Used Humor and Perspective to Talk About Health and Aging
Even when talking about her health, O’Hara relied on humor to keep the moment light. She once recalled calling one of her brothers on the drive home from the doctor, only to learn he had undergone quadruple bypass surgery that very day.
GettyHis heart, she pointed out with amusement, was exactly where it was supposed to be, on the left side.
“So,” she said with mock seriousness, “he kind of scooped my story that day,” she said as per a report in E! News.
Welch added his own levity during the appointment, joking to the doctor, “No, her head’s on backwards.”
That mix of humor and perspective also shaped O’Hara’s view of aging. In a 2024 interview with Elle Canada, she spoke openly about growing older in Hollywood and the stories often attached to it.
“I do think of age, but otherwise, I rarely look in the mirror,” she said. “I feel that now, stories about people my age usually have to do with death and divorce and disease. So I’m really fortunate [to] have people around me who respect aging people and who give me new experiences.”
She shared a piece of advice that stayed with her. “Imagine that you’re going to live a minimum of another 20 years. What are you going to do with those years?”
Her answer was direct and hopeful. “You look forward.”
For O’Hara, speaking openly about situs inversus was not driven by fear, but by understanding and acceptance.
What a lovely lady!!!
So funny, with a rare humour making her even funnier. She was asked what her favorite role ever was, she said the best was being a Mom!!! God bless her
I loved everything I saw her in. She really brought her characters to life – you can tell she put herself into each role she played and she did it well. Will miss her and her natural humour.
I adored this woman from Singing Day Oh in the original Beetlejuice to Shitt’s Creek. I lived in small towns of 400, 500 and 2, 000 (now 1,800) from Colorado to Wyoming. My fashion was noticed and raised eyebrows. I wasn’t as secure then as now. I do relate to her….wish I had those wigs!!
My sincerest condolences and sympathies to her husband and family. I hope you eventually can rejoice at all the stories she has created and left behind.
I loved her in every role but especially Moira. I will miss her. My sincere condolences to her family and colleagues.