Catherine O’Hara passed away on January 30, 2026, at the age of 71, leaving behind a storied career in film and television that spanned decades and delighted audiences worldwide.
From classic roles in “Home Alone,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Best in Show” to her acclaimed work in “Schitt’s Creek” and “The Studio,” her quick wit and warmth made her one of comedy’s most cherished figures.
On March 1, O’Hara posthumously won the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.
Seth Rogen, the co-creator of “The Studio” and O’Hara’s co-star on the show, took the stage to accept the award as the crowd leapt to their feet for a standing ovation.
“I was asked to assume the very sad honor of accepting this award on O’Hara’s behalf,” Rogen started.
“I know she would have been honored to receive this award from her fellow performers, who I know she respected so much. She was such big fans of all of yours,” he said as the camera panned to fellow nominees Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Wiig, Jenna Ortega, and Jean Smart — all of whom were teary-eyed.
“I, obviously, have been reflecting on the time I was fortunate enough to spend with her and working with her, and something that I’ve just been marveling at over the last few weeks was really her ability to be generous and kind and gracious, while never, ever minimizing her own talents and her own ability to contribute to the work that we were doing. She knew she could destroy, and she wanted to destroy every day on set.”
Rogen then referenced the countless times O’Hara had sent him and “The Studio” co-creator Evan Goldberg new ideas for the show.
“And literally, 100% of the time, it made not just her character better, but it made the scene better and the entire show better as a whole,” Rogen said. “And she really showed that you can be a genius and be kind, and one of those things does not have to come at the expense of the other in any way, shape, or form.”
Beyond her onscreen success, O’Hara was deeply committed to giving back. She was a longstanding supporter of the Terry Fox Foundation, helping raise awareness and funds for cancer research tied to the iconic Canadian athlete who ran 3,338 miles across Canada in 1980 with a prosthetic leg to spread cancer awareness.
Her charitable spirit also led her to donate the $250,000 she won on a celebrity episode of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” to Upward Bound House, a nonprofit assisting families facing homelessness in Los Angeles.
In November 2024, O’Hara partnered with the University Health Network of Canada to raise funds for the hospital’s advanced Parkinson’s research.
“University Health Network is Canada’s number one hospital,” she said in a Facebook video. “They are world-class, thanks to their life-changing innovations like implanting devices that stimulate the brain and reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s.”
You can still donate to the cause at the university’s website.
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Header image via Apple TV+
