Catherine O’Hara, the beloved Canadian actress whose comedic brilliance spanned generations and genres, has died at the age of 71. With a career defined by wit, originality, and heart, O’Hara left an indelible mark on sketch comedy, television, and film.
Born in Toronto in 1954, O’Hara grew up as the second youngest of seven siblings. Her early ambitions took root at Toronto’s famed Second City Theater, where she waited tables before stepping onstage alongside legends like Dan Aykroyd and Eugene Levy. Her initial audition might have been met with skepticism, but her undeniable talent earned her a permanent spot and the beginning of a long-standing creative partnership with Levy.
O’Hara rose to prominence in the 1980s on SCTV, a groundbreaking sketch comedy show that allowed her to showcase her razor-sharp impressions and unforgettable original characters. Though she briefly accepted a role on Saturday Night Live, she returned to SCTV, valuing its creative freedom. Her writing contributions earned her five Emmy nominations and one win.
Her transition to film included early appearances in After Hours and Heartburn, but it was her role as the eccentric Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice that cemented her place in pop culture. The collaboration would lead to a personal milestone as well—on set, she met production designer Bo Welch, whom she married in 1992. Together they had two sons, Matthew and Luke.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, O’Hara continued to charm audiences in a series of cult hits, including Home Alone, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and a suite of Christopher Guest mockumentaries. Her ability to blend absurdity with emotion earned her the moniker “the gifted queen of the bittersweet.”
But it was Moira Rose, the wildly stylish, linguistically acrobatic matriarch of Schitt’s Creek, that reintroduced O’Hara to a new generation. As the show gained momentum on Netflix, O’Hara’s portrayal became the stuff of comedy legend. In 2020, she won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award, all of which she attributed to the creative freedom and trust shared with the show’s creators, Eugene and Daniel Levy.
Offscreen, O’Hara was admired for her humility, loyalty, and sense of humor. Her marriage to Welch was rooted in laughter, with sarcasm often replacing conflict. She remained grounded even amid growing fame, consistently choosing meaningful work over commercial gain.
In her final years, O’Hara remained active, appearing in major productions like Argylle and The Last of Us Season 2. Her legacy endures not just in awards and accolades, but in the characters who made us laugh, cry, and believe in the power of being unapologetically oneself.
Catherine O’Hara is survived by her husband and their two sons.