Catherine O’Hara rushed to hospital in ‘serious’ condition hours before death aged 71

Catherine O’Hara was reportedly rushed to hospital in a 'serious' condition in the hours before her death.

It was announced on Friday (30 January) that the beloved actress had passed away at the age of 71 following a brief illness, her representatives said.

Home Alone actor Macaulay Culkin is among the stars who have shared their sadness in the wake of the film legend's death, as he poignantly paid tribute to his on-screen 'mama'.

"I thought we had time," he said. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you, but I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later."

According to Variety, O’Hara's agency - renowned for her roles in Schitt's Creek and Beetlejuice - previously said she had passed away at her home.

Further details surrounding her death have not yet been released, although reports have now emerged claiming she suffered a medical emergency in the hours prior.

Catherine O'Hara, pictured with her husband Bo Welch, passed away on 30 January (MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Emergency responders were called to O’Hara's home in Brentwood, California, at 4.48am on Friday morning to provide medical assistance, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told Page Six.

The publication reported that she was then rushed to hospital in a 'serious condition'.

It has also been claimed that the 71-year-old actress was set to start filming the second season of Seth Rogen's hit Apple TV show The Studio just days before her death.

Filming reportedly kicked off for the Golden Globe-winning series last week; however, the shooting schedule is said to have been altered to accommodate O’Hara's 'personal matters'.

"She was scheduled to film, but they reworked the schedule to focus on scenes without her character," a source told The Sun.

“It was not widely known she was dealing with any health or major issues. I don’t believe she ever filmed anything for season two."

The film star was reportedly rushed to hospital in a 'serious condition' in the hours before her death (MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Rogen also shared an emotional tribute to O’Hara, with the comedian describing her as a 'hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous' person.

He wrote in a social media post: "Really don’t know what to say… I told O’Hara when I first met her, I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen.

"Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies. Getting to work with her was a true honour. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous… she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it."

O'Hara's incredible career spanned five decades, kicking off with the Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television, for which she won her first Emmy.

She then went on to pick up another Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Critics' Choice Award and other accolades.

Her co-star Seth Rogen said he was 'devastated' by her death (Apple TV)

Between 1996 and 2006, O'Hara collaborated with Christopher Guest and appeared in a number of his mockumentary films, including Best in Show and For Your Consideration.

In addition to appearing on screen, the icon voiced various roles in popular animations such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Chicken Little, and Over the Hedge.

Most recently, she starred in The Studio and HBO's The Last of Us.

Marking a resurgence in her career, these roles followed her unforgettable appearance as Moria Rose in Schitt's Creek, which bagged her the second Emmy.

The mother-of-two is survived by her two sons, Matthew, 31, and Luke, 29, as well as her husband of 33 years, director Bo Welch.

LADbible Group has contacted O'Hara's representatives for comment.