Friday, January 30, surprised everyone with the death of Catherine O’Hara. At 71, the actress known for Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and plenty of other movies and shows passed due to a “brief illness,” according to multiple reports.
Following the news, O’Hara was eulogized by several costars across the decades, including Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin. “Mama, I thought we had more time,” he wrote on Instagram. “I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”
“She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend,” said Michael Keaton. “We go back before the first Beetlejuice. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her. Thinking about [her husband, Bo Welch] as well.”
“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful,” added The Last of Us’ Pedro Pascal. “There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always ♥️.” Separately, series co-creator Craig Mazin remembered her as a “wonderful, brilliant, kind, beautiful human being. I think she would prefer that we keep laughing somehow, or at the very least not cry. We were lucky to have had you at all.”
In a joint statement, the cast and crew of Apple’s The Studio called her “a hero to all of us, and we pinched ourselves every day that we got to work with her. We’re unbelievably saddened she is gone and send our deepest sympathy to Bo and all her family.”
Separately, her longtime friend and Schitt’s Creek costar Eugene Levy called it “an honor [to know and work with] Catherine for over fifty years. From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to SCTV, to the movies we did with Chris Guest, to our six glorious years on ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship. And I will miss her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and the entire O’Hara family.”
We’ve collected more eulogies for O’Hara down below.
What an honor it was to be spoofed by Catherine O’Hara. What an unfathomable loss. We love you, Catherine. Comedy won’t be the same without her. Sending love to Catherine’s family, friends, castmates, and fans today. Truly beloved.
— Brooke Shields
This is shattering news. What a wonderful person, artist and collaborator. I was lucky enough to direct, produce and act in projects with her and she was simply growing more brilliant with each year. My heart goes out to Bo & family.
— Ron Howard
From SCTV to Home Alone to her unforgettable role as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, Catherine O’Hara was a beloved Canadian icon with a rare gift for comedy and heart. She made people laugh across generations and helped bring Canadian storytelling to the world in a way only she…
— Justin Trudeau
While working at Toronto’s Second City Theater, Catherine O’Hara was made Gilda Radner’s understudy.
When Radner left in 1974, O’Hara became a member of the company, and her ability to imbue her comedic characters with depth and humanity launched a decades-long career.
— Encyclopaedia Britannica
