The passing of actress Catherine O’Hara at age 71 has brought renewed attention to a little-known aspect of her life: a rare congenital condition called situs inversus. This condition, affecting roughly 1 in 10,000 people, causes major visceral organs to be reversed or mirrored from their normal positions. In O’Hara’s case, her heart and other organs were positioned on the opposite side of her body.
What is Situs Inversus?
Situs inversus is not a disease but a developmental anomaly. It’s often symptomless and only discovered incidentally during medical testing. Complete situs inversus —where all major organs are mirrored—is rare. More common are situs ambiguous or heterotaxy, where organ placement is less predictable, and may include additional abnormalities.
O’Hara’s Awareness and Attitude
O’Hara spoke openly about her condition in a past interview, describing it with humor. She learned about it during routine tuberculosis testing required by her son’s school. Her doctor was reportedly astonished, calling her the first patient with situs inversus he had ever encountered. O’Hara joked that her husband quipped her organs were “on backwards.”
Why This Matters
The fact that O’Hara lived a full life despite this condition highlights how often such anomalies go undetected, and how little they impact daily functioning. She is one of many public figures with the condition—including Enrique Iglesias and Donny Osmond—who have not let it define their careers or health.
O’Hara’s case reminds us that medical variations are more common than many realize, and that a rare condition doesn’t necessarily mean a life defined by illness.
The reemergence of this detail following her death is a testament to her openness and the broader fascination with the human body’s unique variations.
