The entertainment world is mourning the loss of beloved actress Catherine O'Hara, who passed away on Friday at the age of 71. Her Schitt's Creek co-stars Dan Levy and his father Eugene Levy have shared deeply personal and touching tributes, reflecting on a friendship and creative partnership that spanned decades.
A Family Bond Beyond the Screen
Dan Levy, 42, who co-created the hit series with his father, expressed that O'Hara was "family" both on and off camera. In an emotional Instagram post, he shared two photographs and wrote: "What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O'Hara's brilliance for all those years."
He elaborated on their unique connection, noting: "Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family. It's hard to imagine a world without her in it." Dan concluded his tribute by extending condolences: "My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and every member of her big, beautiful family."
Eugene Levy's Fifty-Year Friendship
Eugene Levy, 79, who portrayed Johnny Rose opposite O'Hara's Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek, provided a statement to the Daily Mail expressing profound loss. "Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today," he began.
He chronicled their extraordinary partnership: "I had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O'Hara 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." Eugene also sent his sympathies to O'Hara's husband Bo Welch and their sons Matthew and Luke.
A Legendary Career Remembered
Catherine O'Hara's career was marked by iconic roles across multiple generations of comedy. A Toronto native, she first met Eugene Levy in 1974 as members of the Second City comedy troupe, beginning a creative partnership that would endure for half a century.
Her remarkable filmography includes:
- Memorable performances in the first two Home Alone films as Macaulay Culkin's mother
- Classic roles in Christopher Guest mockumentaries like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind
- An unforgettable turn in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice
- Her Emmy-winning portrayal of the fabulously dramatic Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek
O'Hara's talent was recognized with numerous accolades, including two Emmy Awards—first in 1982 for SCTV Network and again in 2020 for Schitt's Creek—and eight additional nominations. In 2017, she was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honors.
Final Public Appearances and Health Emergency
The actress's last public appearance was at the 2024 Emmy Awards in September, where Dan and Eugene Levy co-hosted the ceremony. She was notably absent from the 2026 Golden Globes on January 11, where she had been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Studio.
According to reports, O'Hara was rushed to hospital after suffering a medical emergency at her Los Angeles home early Friday morning. First responders were called to her Brentwood residence around 5 AM after she experienced difficulty breathing. The Los Angeles Fire Department transported her to a nearby hospital in serious condition, where she was pronounced dead within hours.
A statement from her agency, CAA, confirmed she died "at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness." Her exact cause of death has not been disclosed.
Cast Reunion Hopes and Lasting Legacy
Following the conclusion of Schitt's Creek in 2020, Dan Levy had expressed hope for a potential reunion. In a 2022 interview, he noted: "My hope is that one day we can all get together. I see these people all the time. We're in constant contact with each other. So the love is there. The desire to work together is there, and the desire to tell more stories is there."
He emphasized the care needed for any continuation: "I think it just comes down to making sure that it's the right story to tell. And I think we're also proud of the work we did on Schitt's. And when you end on such a high, it really forces you to think very carefully about what the next step is."
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry, including from Macaulay Culkin, who shared a heartfelt Instagram post remembering his on-screen mother. O'Hara's legacy as a comedic genius and cherished collaborator remains firmly established through her body of work and the profound impact she had on colleagues like the Levy family.
