Catherine O’Hara’s Children: Who Are Matthew and Luke Welch and What Do They Do Today
Catherine O’Hara was more than one of the most beloved actresses in contemporary television and film — she was also a devoted mother whose sons brought another kind of meaning to her life. While generations remember her unforgettable performances, particularly in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, those closest to her knew her first as mom. She shared that privilege with her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and together they raised two sons, Matthew and Luke Welch, who have carved out their own quieter, creative lives in Hollywood.
Catherine and Bo met on the set of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice in 1988, where he worked as the film’s production designer. Their personal connection blossomed quickly, and they married in 1992. Soon after, they welcomed their first son, Matthew, in 1994. Three years later, in 1997, their second son, Luke, was born. The couple kept family life largely private, choosing to protect their children from the intensity of public attention despite living at the intersection of Hollywood and entertainment culture.
Growing up, Matthew and Luke were raised with a strong sense of humor and creativity — qualities Catherine often spoke about fondly. In a 2007 interview, she remembered both boys as naturally funny, with their own developing comedic styles even in childhood. She once described Matthew as enjoying “Warners cartoon bits” and Luke as playing with wordplay, bringing laughter into the family home and reinforcing how important humor was in their upbringing.
Though Matthew and Luke were born into a family with deep roots in acting and filmmaking, they chose to pursue roles behind the scenes rather than in front of the camera. Both sons have worked in set design and construction, helping shape physical spaces for storytelling rather than performing within them. This career path allowed them to remain connected to the creative world they grew up around, while maintaining relative privacy.
Their participation in Hollywood was not distant from their mother’s work. On Schitt’s Creek, a show that became a generational phenomenon and one of O’Hara’s most celebrated roles, both Matthew and Luke contributed as part of the set design and construction teams. Catherine once shared in a 2020 interview that one of her sons even worked as a set dresser on the HBO series The Last of Us Season 2, demonstrating how the family’s creative collaboration spanned different genres and projects.
Despite the family’s entertainment industry ties, both sons have largely remained out of the spotlight. Catherine and Bo rarely brought Matthew and Luke to awards shows or high-profile premieres, and the boys themselves have maintained private lives, with few public appearances. One of Matthew’s only early red-carpet moments came as an infant in 1994 at the opening party for Tim Burton’s photo exhibit The Museum of Unnatural History, where he briefly appeared with his parents.
Catherine’s dedication to her family was a guiding force throughout her career. She often explained that, when making decisions about work, her sons and her role as a mother came first. She spoke about wanting to be present in their lives — not just as a celebrity, but as a caregiver and companion during their formative years. That focus on presence over publicity helped shape the environment in which Matthew and Luke grew up.
The connection between Catherine and her children was more than professional or incidental; it was personal and deeply felt. She generously described motherhood as “one of the most important roles in life,” reflecting how her experiences with Matthew and Luke enriched her understanding of both life and work. These sentiments resonated with audiences, particularly because Catherine portrayed maternal roles so compellingly on screen — roles that were grounded in humanity and heart.
Today, as the world continues to honor Catherine O’Hara’s legacy in film and television following her passing in January 2026, her sons Matthew and Luke remain a testament to the private, creative life she cherished. They stand not only as her children, but as individual professionals in their own right — quietly contributing to the world of entertainment in ways that reflect their upbringing and their family’s artistic legacy.
