‘Schitt’s Creek’ cast reacts to Catherine O’Hara’s death
The cast of “Schitt’s Creek” is mourning the loss of Catherine O’Hara, who passed away on January 30 after a short illness. She was 71.
O’Hara played the exuberant matriach Moira Rose on the Canadian sitcom from 2015 to 2020, starring Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose, Dan Levy as David Rose and Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose.
Dan Levy wrote on Instagram“What a gift to have danced all these years in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s genius. After working with my father for more than fifty years, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family. It’s hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I had the privilege of making with her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and every member of her big, beautiful family.”
In “Schitt’s Creek,” the once prosperous Rose family finds itself financially ruined and forced to move to the town of the same name. The series also starred Emily Hampshire, Jennifer Robertson, Noah Reid, Sarah Levy and Chris Elliott.
Robertson said USA today“I am deeply saddened to hear that we have lost Catherine. It was a beautiful, magical gift to be around Catherine O’Hara. She was an absolute star who never understood why people made such a fuss about her. Her passing is a loss to all who knew and loved her. My deepest condolences to Bo, her sons and the O’Hara family.”
Elliott, who played Roland Schitt, said in a statement to USA Today: “Working with her and Eugene was a dream come true for me – all the more special because Catherine was such a warm-hearted, generous and humble person. I will always remember the laughs we shared on screen and off, and I will never forget our fun shopping trip at Joe Fresh.”
Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy, Eugene Levy and Dan Levy in ‘Schitt’s Creek’.
Pop TV
“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Catherine O’Hara, a beloved Canadian icon whose brilliance lit up screens and stages around the world. From SCTV and Home Alone to her unforgettable portrayal of Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, Catherine brought unparalleled talent and a rare and radiant spirit to everything she touched,” CBC Television, which produced “Schitt’s Creek,” said in a statement. “With her passing, a light has gone out. We extend our sincere condolences to Catherine’s family and friends. She will be forever missed.”
During the show’s six seasons, O’Hara received a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG-AFTRA’s Actor Award, TCA Award and Critics Choice Award for her performance as Moira. “A proud, out-of-control lady of leisure forced to deal with the hoi polloi, Moira’s impractical outfits and fish-out-of-water frenzy helped crystallize the comic contrast that was the series’ creative engine,” Variety TV critic Alison Herman wrote in her tribute.
Prior to “Schitt’s Creek,” O’Hara and Eugene Levy collaborated with Christopher Guest on several mockumentary films, including “For Your Consideration,” “Best in Show,” “Waiting for Guffman” and “A Mighty Wind.”
“I am devastated. We have lost one of the comics giants of our time,” Guest said of O’Hara in a statement. “I send my love to her family.”
O’Hara’s other notable roles include Kate McCallister in the first two “Home Alone” films, Sally and Shock in the 1993 animated classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” films.
See more tributes to O’Hara here.
