Relive Catherine O’Hara’s Life in Pictures, Wigs and Iconic Moments

Catherine O’Hara’s career was anything but boring, lethargic or dripping with ennui.

Just under three weeks before her death at age 71, the actress received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her work on The Studio.

Catherine didn’t attend the January 11th event, but her memorable performance as Patty Leigh in the TV show created by Seth Rogen really stood out. However, she needed some encouragement from both Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to agree to take on the role.

She told Forbes in March 2025 that the project was initially presented as exciting, enjoyable, and insightful. They talked about compelling characters, and the scripts themselves were actually very funny. She added that she hadn’t previously played a character with so much power who quickly falls from grace.

Catherine O’Hara might have felt a little unsure taking on this new role, but she’s never shied away from a challenge. Starting with her first on-screen appearance in 1975’s Wayne and Shuster, she’s appeared in over 120 films and TV shows, including popular titles like Beetlejuice, Best in Show, and Home Alone.

She told TopMob News she really enjoyed the script for the holiday movie, which also features Macaulay Culkin. She described the experience as fun and praised the child actors involved.

She credited her family for nurturing her comedic talents.

Oh my gosh, she said the most amazing thing at the USC Comedy Festival last year! She believes we’re all naturally funny, which, like, I totally get! But she said it’s all about whether people around you let that shine, or if life just kind of… crushes it out of you. And she was SO lucky – she grew up in a really fun family that encouraged her! It just proves what I’ve always thought – a supportive environment is everything!

Catherine O’Hara became well-known for her work in comedy, especially for playing the former soap opera actress Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek. She loved bringing the character—a dramatic but lovable mother figure—to life, and in 2020, she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance.

In 2019, she told TopMob News she simply wanted to create a character she enjoyed spending time with. She was surprised and pleased that others connected with the character too – whether they found her amusing, relatable, or even a little bit eccentric, and that some people felt they learned from her experiences.

She explained that Moira encouraged older women to be more adventurous, embrace having fun with wigs, and generally live life to the fullest.

For a look back at Catherine’s life in photos, keep reading.