NEED TO KNOW
Love is pouring in for Catherine O’Hara in the wake of her death.
On Friday, Jan. 30, the Canadian actress’s manager confirmed to PEOPLE that she had died. She was 71. In wake of her death, stars from the various beloved projects she starred in — Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek, The Studio — and those who cherished her work are remembering her as a legendary comedian, talented actress and dear friend.
Her onscreen son Macaulay Culkin’s heartwrenching farewell to O’Hara was just one of the many tributes to the star from costars and colleagues.
Michael McKean, who along with O’Hara was a regular in many Christopher Guest comedies, summed up the loss simply on X: “Only one Catherine O’Hara, and now none. Heartbreaking.”
Guest wrote of O’Hara, “I am devastated. We have lost one of the comic giants of our age. I send my love to her family.”
Pedro Pascal honored the late actress, who featured in the second season of The Last of Us, in a post on Instagram. Alongside a photo of O’Hara and him on the show’s set, Pascal honored “the one and ONLY.”
“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always ♥️,” Pascal wrote in the caption.
Ron Howard, who recently crossed paths with the actress on The Studio, echoed similar sentiments, praising O’Hara as a “wonderful person, artist and collaborator” in a post on X. “She was simply growing more brilliant with each year,” he added.
O’Hara’s Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice costar Justin Theroux shared a snap of the actress’s chair from the movie’s set, which bore her name. In an Instagram post, Theroux wrote, “🕊️Oh Catherine. You will be so so missed.”
Michael Keaton, who famously starred alonside O’Hara in both Beetlejuice movies, wrote in his own post: “She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her.”
In a post on Instagram, Katie Couric shared a compilation of photos of O’Hara through her years in Hollywood, from the early 1990s to recent snaps, and added, she was “so sad to hear this news.” Andy Cohen shared a similar throwback on Instagram, featuring O’Hara during her time on Second City Television, and the TV host wrote: “Fell in love at first sight on SCTV and it only got stronger. Rest In Peace, Angel Catherine O’Hara.”
Amy Sedaris also reminisced on the late actress’s time on SCTV, including a snippet from the show in an Instagram post, which read: “Catherine O’Hara was such an inspiration to me. I was obsessed with her and SCTV. She could do anything. So so funny. So so original.” Elizabeth Banks and John Stamos both shared the same nostalgic clip to honor the late actress.
Rita Wilson honored the late actress in a tribute post on Instagram, calling O’Hara “a woman who was authentic and truthful in all she did.”
“You saw it in her work, if you knew her you saw it in her life, and you saw it in her family,” Wilson wrote, and sent sympathies to her husband Bo Welch and their two children Luke and Matthew. “May Catherine rest in peace. May her memory be eternal.”
Scores of other stars remembered O’Hara online, including Jackie Hoffman, John Carroll Lynch and Steven Canals. Josh Malina and Sharon Purser called the actress a “comic legend” and “one of the greats and … a genius,” respectively. Melanie Lynskey wrote that O’Hara was a “singular” and “otherworldly” talent, while Eric Stonestreet recalled the late actress was “as sweet and kind as she was funny.”
“Precious few people in this world are universally loved and admired. Catherine O’Hara was not only one of those few… she deserved it. Rest In Eternal Peace,” wrote Michael Chiklis in a post on X.
Lea Thompson honored O’Hara in her own post, calling the actress her “dear friend” who was “the most glorious person.”
“You could feel her love of humanity in her brilliant work. And she had integrity, clarity and wisdom that made her a unique treasure. I know the greats are with her now trying to pick her wonderful brain as to how she could do it all,” Thompson wrote in the post’s caption.
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Designer Christian Siriano, who previously dressed O’Hara in “Siriano stripes,” wrote on Instagram that styling her was one of his “favorite memories” he’ll always cherish. “Rest well [you] incredible woman,” he added.
A fellow Canadian, Michael Bublé, penned an emotional, powerful tribute to O’Hara and her lasting legacy. In a post on instagram, Buble remembered the actress as a “legendary artist, actor and comedian,” an inspiration and “an ambassador for Canada in the truest sense.”
“She set the bar for what it means to represent your country with excellence and grace and all without ever losing warmth or humility,” Buble wrote. “Catherine O’Hara was one of a kind. A rare light in this world and her passing hits with a weight I can’t fully put into words.”
Another of her compatriots, David Furnish spoke to O’Hara’s enduring legacy in a post on Instagram, highlighting her distinct sense of humor and fruitful career alongside a selfie of the two of them.
“She’s kept me roaring with laughter for DECADES. From Lola Heatherton on SCTV in Canada in the 70’s to Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek today – and all the roles in between,” Furnish wrote. “I’ve loved everything she’s done. How brilliant to leave such a legacy of artistic excellence and laughter.”
O’Hara’s The Studio castmate Ike Barinholtz spoke out after the actress’s death, thanking her for the time they got to spend together. Per Variety, the actor said, “I never in a million years thought I would get to work with Catherine O’Hara let alone become friends with her. So profoundly sad she’s somewhere else now.”
Brooke Shields posted on Instagram celebrating O’Hara’s SCTV spoof of her from the ’80s. “What an unfathomable loss. We love you, Catherine. Comedy won’t be the same without her.”
Ellen DeGeneres reflected on the time the “brilliant comedian” O’Hara appeared on her talk show, and said she was “sending love to all who adored [O’Hara], which might just be everyone.”
Neil Patrick Harris, who briefly co-starred alongside O’Hara in the first season of Series of Unfortunate Events, reminisced on her presence and talent. In a post on Instagram, Harris shared a charismatic snap from filming the show, in which his character Count Olaf had dressed up to pretend he was the secretary to O’Hara’s character, the scheming optometrist Dr. Orwell.
“I’m stunned and so sad. Catherine O’Hara was truly one of the greats. Classy, kind, warm, and hilarious. A singular talent,” the actor wrote. “May she rest in peace.”
