For many of us, the news of Catherine O’Hara’s death at the age of 71 on January 30 came as a total shock. The comedic genius was still working–she was due to start filming for the second season of Seth Rogen’s Hollywood-set The Studio, she was on the Emmys stage just last autumn, and still, by all accounts, had more time. As we continue to process this unfathomable loss, we take a look back at the actor’s most memorable performances from the last four decades.
After Hours (1985)
In this underrated pitch-black comedy from Martin Scorsese, the tale of a New Yorker (Griffin Dunne) on a madcap night out, O’Hara is a giggly scene-stealer–proof she never needed much screen time to make a big impact.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Opposite Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Geena Davis, and more stars, O’Hara was the red-headed, bright lipstick-sporting, lip-synching, manically-dancing Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s Halloween classic, as well as its 2024 follow-up, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. I, for one, can’t stop watching that dinner party scene.
Home Alone (1990)
Christmas will never be the same again–every year from now on, as I rewatch Chris Columbus’s seasonal staple, 1992’s Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and, of course, Henry Selick’s The Nightmare Before Christmas from 1993, I’ll be sobbing at O’Hara’s brilliance. She’s the heart and soul of this cosy festive trifecta.
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Christopher Guest’s deeply cringey mockumentary following a couple (O’Hara and Fred Willard) who are cast as the leads of a small-town community theatre production was the perfect vehicle for the actor’s talents. It’s literally impossible to imagine anyone else playing this all-singing, all-dancing oddball.
Best in Show (2000)
Taking the part of Eugene Levy’s wife a decade and a half before Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara is a knockout in this side-splitting reunion with director Christopher Guest, playing a glamorous dog mom forever pursued by former lovers. It’s a delight to watch her shed the wholesome image and sizzle.
A Mighty Wind (2003)
O’Hara’s next outing with Guest and Levy, a charming folk music parody involving a duo who are reuniting for a TV concert, is equally hilarious but also heartfelt. The scene in which the on-screen pair, embodying former lovers who always ended their performances with a kiss, decide what to do this time, is one for the ages.
Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020)
To many, O’Hara will forever be the eccentric, indomitable Moira Rose–and with good reason. There’s no shortage of unforgettable quips, incredible costumes, bonkers wigs and truly iconic moments in Eugene and Daniel Levy’s beloved sitcom. It brought her an Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award, and two SAG Awards, as well as the undivided attention of a whole new generation.
The Studio (2025)
The O’Hara renaissance then continued with the industry-skewering satire, in which she played the steely veteran executive to Seth Rogen’s bumbling new studio head. She’s as funny and commanding as ever–and come Season 2, will be sorely missed.
