How Catherine O’Hara Built a Life With Her Bébé, Husband Bo Welch

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Someone once wisely said that gossip is like the devil’s way of spreading rumors – it’s best to ignore it completely. Actress Catherine O’Hara used to follow this advice when she was dating, simply choosing not to engage with it.

She admitted in a 2025 interview with New York Magazine‘s The Cut that she used to end potential relationships by simply disappearing. However, she clarified that this wasn’t called ‘ghosting’ back then – people just didn’t answer the phone.

Don’t judge her too quickly, and remember everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do.

The actress said she believes if she doesn’t see a potential future with someone after just one date, there’s no point in continuing. She emphasized the importance of trusting your instincts.

Her instincts led her to Bo Welch, an award-winning production designer and the longtime partner of the star of Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek. They were married in 1992 and remained together until her death on January 30th at the age of 71.

The Emmy-winning actress confessed she’d definitely made mistakes, but ultimately believes she found the perfect partner in her husband.

She jokingly says dating is difficult, but she fell in love quickly with actor Thomas Welch while working on the 1988 film Beetlejuice.

You know, working with the production designer on Beetlejuice was… interesting! I was chatting with him constantly, it honestly felt like being back in high school – just those everyday little conversations you have by your locker. He’d talk to me every day, which was fun, but he never actually made a move! I was playing Delia Deetz, and we were on set so much, it was a really playful dynamic, but ultimately, just friendly. I shared this story recently on The Kelly Clarkson Show – it’s funny looking back on it now!

As Welch moved from the Los Angeles studio to film on location in Vermont, O’Hara recalled jokingly complaining to Tim Burton that the production designer hadn’t asked her on a date. Burton then playfully offered to see if he could help with that.

When she arrived in Vermont for the first day of outdoor filming, he seemed hesitant. He asked if she wanted to join the art department at a swap meet, almost as if he’d been told he had to ask.

Despite seeming unhappy or annoyed during the date, they both actually had a wonderful time.

“Tim was right,” O’Hara acknowledged. “He made it happen.” 

In January 2019, O’Hara told The New Yorker that she moved to Los Angeles to be with her partner. “I moved for love,” she said, leaving Canada behind.

After she married a man from Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Taylor received a special favor from Richard Burton: a private tour of the Vatican. She told Kelly Clarkson they even got to see inside the Pope’s wardrobe, filled with clothing and other items, calling the experience ‘crazy’.

And yet their life together was otherwise fairly ordinary. 

Both had incredibly successful careers – she worked on beloved films like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Waiting for Guffman, and the Home Alone movies throughout the 1990s, while he earned praise for his contributions to Edward Scissorhands, Men in Black, and The Color Purple. During that time, they also started a family, welcoming their son Matthew in 1994, followed by his brother Luke in 1997.

Though, admittedly, they did have one instance of reality being every bit as strange as fiction. 

I remember one time, it was probably in New York, Bo and I were trying to catch the subway. We turned around, and the doors started closing – but we hadn’t made it on! I let out a huge scream, and honestly, everyone else joined in! It was total chaos, but everyone was screaming with me. It was wild!

Luckily, the train doors reopened just in time, and her sons were able to get on. O’Hara said he was deeply disturbed thinking about how easily things could have gone wrong.

However, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t get stressed out watching the beloved 1990 holiday movie starring Macaulay Culkin.

She told TopMob News in 2021 that she watches Home Alone every December, along with her other holiday favorites like Holiday Inn, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

“Oh yeah,” she quipped, “have to force my kids to watch that.” 

The family also embraced some of the traditions she experienced growing up in a large family – she was one of seven children.

My dad used to dress up as Santa and go outside, and my mom would create the magic by announcing ‘Santa’s here!’ while we were getting ready for bed, she told TopMob.

Oh my gosh, just thinking about it gives me chills! Every Christmas Eve, my sister and I would practically vibrate with anticipation, huddled by the front door, listening to our dad pretending to be Santa – she said we were insanely excited, and that’s putting it mildly! The best part was always the new pajamas – a Christmas Eve tradition. But honestly? We could never fall asleep! Santa had already been, but he’d be back later, and we’d lie there, completely wired, bodies tense, eyes wide open, just bursting with excitement. I totally carried on that tradition with my own kids. My husband and I would even have him sneak outside and ring the doorbell to make it even more magical!

That’s just a small glimpse into a life filled with wonderful experiences. Continue reading to discover all the ways O’Hara impacted the world.

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2026-01-31 00:17