On Friday, January 30, 2026, multiple sources reported actress Catherine O’Hara died in Los Angeles, California. She was 71-years-old and leaves behind two sons as well as her husband, Bo Welch.
Throughout her decades-long career, O’Hara wore many hats. For some, O’Hara was best known as Beetlejuice‘s Delia Deetz, who favored post-modern design. Others might think of the actress as the quirky-yet-lovable Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek. However, as soon as the holidays rolled around, Home Alone immediately comes to mind. In the film, she played Kate McCallister, mother to Kevin and, of course, the fictional owner of that home.
Ah, the Home Alone house. Though we know O’Hara didn’t actually live there, it remains a great representation of the actress’s body of work: Timeless and beloved. Fans might see the property on their screen every year, but did you know the home still exists today? Nestled in Winnetka, a north Chicago suburb, the Georgian Colonial residence is a local landmark. Come the holidays, about 100 people a day swing by and do their best Kevin impression in front of the house.
Of course, the property isn’t just a tourist destination for locals and movie lovers: It’s actually a family’s home. Clocking in at a staggering 9,126 square feet, the 16-room home has plenty of room for a McCallister-sized family. (And, yes, out-of-towners like Fuller and Uncle Frank.) When the home was most recently listed back in 2024 for $5.5 million, listing photos revealed a major, modern makeover—complete with a private movie theater and sports court.
The current home might look very different from the festive space we’ve grown to love, but we’re going to let you in on a little secret: Home Alone wasn’t actually filmed inside the Winnetka abode. While you can see some similarities between the real and fictional layouts—especially that statement staircase—the set was actually built in an old gymnasium so the crew could navigate around Kevin’s home hijinks.
“We couldn’t really shoot in their house,” production designer John Muto told Realtor.com. “It was too small. We could barely get the crew in the door.”
As for the set’s interiors? Muto stuck with a rich palette of reds, greens, and golds to play up the spirit of Christmas. In fact, the internet is convinced a bluish emerald called Phthalo Green anchors the classic decor. Meanwhile, the use of floral wallpaper, dark wood furniture, and lush drapery epitomizes 1990s style. Whether you choose to visit the home in-person or admire it from your screen, one thing’s for sure: This home—and the actors who pretended to live there—leave an incredible, heart-warming legacy behind.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.goodhousekeeping.com ’
