The Life and Legacy of Catherine O’Hara
- Madelyn Dibiase
- 4 minutes ago
- 4 min read
BY: MADELYN DIBIASE / CO-NEWS EDITOR
On Jan. 30, it was announced to the press that legendary actress, Catherine O’Hara, has unfortunately passed away at the age of 71. There has been an outpouring of messages of love and condolences for her family, from fans and all who have had the honor of working with her. Her death comes as a shock to all of Hollywood, and it is obvious she will be greatly missed.
Catherine O’Hara was born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Canada. Growing up in a large family of eight, she and her siblings were always making each other laugh and using humor whenever they could. She got her official comedic start when she was hired as a waitress at the Second City Theatre, which is an improvisational comedy club in Toronto. At the time, comedian Gilda Radner was a cast member at this club, and O’Hara quickly became Radner’s understudy.
Following Radner’s departure in 1974, O’Hara joined the cast. She was among the first cast members on the Second City Theatre’s sketch comedy show called SCTV. The sketch comedy show acquired a spot on late-night television in the United States. Catherine O’Hara was recognized for her writing contributions, and took home her first Emmy Award in 1982.
SCTV said its television goodbye in 1983, but its impact on Catherine O’Hara’s career was never ending. Her work on the Canadian sketch comedy show earned her first movie roles in After Hours (1985) directed by Martin Scorsese and Heartburn (1986) by Mike Nichols. Then, her first memorable film role came in 1988. She was cast as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice directed by the legendary Tim Burton. She reprised this role in 2024 for Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. With a few more smaller TV and Film appearances scattered throughout, her career began to skyrocket.
Catherine O’Hara’s most memorable role in her career is arguably Kate McCallister in the classic holiday films Home Alone (1990), and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). These two iconic Christmas movies are a staple in many households during the holiday season. It is safe to say that next Christmas, when Home Alone is on TV screens, all will be remembering her legacy.
Following her big break in the Home Alone films, O’Hara got cast in four Christopher Guest movies in the late ‘90s and 2000s. These films are Waiting For Guffman (1996), Best In Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). She collaborated with actor Eugene Levy in all four of these films. Both actors were nominated for an Academy Award for a song they duetted on in Best In Show entitled “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”.
In 2015, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara reunited to star on the hit comedy series Schitt’s Creek (2015-20). Her character in the show is named Moira Rose, a former soap opera star, who is married to Levy’s character, Johnny Rose. This role earned her two Emmy nominations. One nomination in 2019 and the other nomination in 2020. She won the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020. She also won a Critics’ Choice Award, and a Golden Globe, both in 2021, along with many others for her work in the sitcom.
The legendary Canadian actress capped off her career with a couple of TV appearances in 2025. She was featured in The Last of Us, alongside Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, as a psychotherapist named Gail Lynden. She also appeared in The Studio, starring Seth Rogen, where she played Patty Leigh, a Hollywood producer. O’Hara is nominated for an award at the 32nd Actor Awards next month, which she will receive posthumously, if she wins.
There is no questioning the legacy that Catherine O’Hara leaves behind following her sudden passing. Many of her co-stars are saddened and shocked by her death, including Macaulay Culkin, her on-screen son in Home Alone. Culkin took to social media hours after her death to pen a tribute to O’Hara. “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more.” He continues to write, “I love you. I’ll see you later.”
Eugene Levy also penned a statement following the death of his Schitt’s Creek co-star. He writes, “Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today. I had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O’Hara for over fifty years.” He ends his statement sending his heartfelt wishes to her family, and notes that he will miss her.
The impact that Catherine O’Hara had on the entertainment industry is indescribable. Hollywood lost a great, but the outpouring of love proves that her legacy is eternal, even though she is no longer with us. As she famously says, in the film Frankenweenie (2012), “When you lose someone you love, they never really leave you. They just move into a special place in your heart.”