Catherine O’Hara Wanted to Be Remembered for Special Role

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Catherine O’Hara, the beloved comedic actress known for roles in Schitt’s Creek, SCTV, Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and The Studio, passed away yesterday, January 30th, at the age of 71. While these are some of her most famous works, she hoped to be remembered for more. O’Hara was born with a rare condition called dextrocardia with situs inversus, which meant her heart and organs were reversed. Reports indicate she experienced breathing difficulties before a 911 call was made from her Los Angeles home. Her death has prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from colleagues and fans alike.

A recent rediscovery of an old TMZ interview reveals a touching response from O’Hara when a reporter asked her, while she was waiting at an airport, which role she’d most like to be remembered for. Her answer was simple and heartfelt: “The mother of my children.” She was referring to her sons, Matthew and Luke Welch, who she shared with her husband, Bo Welch. This sentiment echoes comments she made on the Wiser Than Me podcast in 2024, where she told Julia Louis-Dreyfus that she purposefully scaled back her work while her boys were growing up.

I recall receiving my first two job offers – they were around the £5,000 to £9,000 mark, possibly £6,000 to £9,000. One was in London. When considering my career path, my family has always been my top priority. Having two young sons, I often wondered what the point of having children was if I wasn’t going to be present in their lives. Being a good father has always been, and will continue to be, my most important consideration.

Catherine O’Hara Was Never Better Than in Christmas Classic


Buena Vista Pictures

Many fans don’t fully appreciate Catherine O’Hara’s beautiful and moving vocals as Sally in the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas. Created by the grumpy Dr. Finkelstein, Sally is a lonely ragdoll who longs to escape her life as a servant and find love with Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. While Jack isolates himself after discovering Christmas Town, O’Hara’s character delivers one of the most emotionally powerful scenes in the stop-motion film through her song, “Sally’s Song.” The song expresses Sally’s feelings for Jack, which she believes are unreturned.

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After learning about the death of a member of the cast, Henry Selick, director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, spoke with The Daily Mail.

I’ve been a fan of Catherine O’Hara since her days on the Canadian comedy show Second City TV, where she was both a performer and a creator. Later, I was thrilled to have the chance to work with her when she lent her voice to the character of Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas, the animated film I directed for Tim Burton.

She was initially a bit intimidating – incredibly intelligent, beautiful, and a true professional who wasn’t afraid to challenge me. She used to get frustrated with how many retakes I’d request. But years later, she admitted she understood; my constant requests were actually how I developed the character’s personality and depth.

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2026-02-01 00:38