Heartfelt tributes poured out from Hollywood and famous Canadians on Friday for Emmy-award-winning actor and comedian Catherine O’Hara.
The 71-year-old actress, best known for her roles in hit Canadian series “Schitt’s Creek” and “Home Alone,” died on Friday at her home in Los Angeles “following a brief illness,” her agency, Creative Artists Agency, told the Associated Press.
O’Hara, who was born in Toronto, won her first Emmy in 1982 as a writer for “SCTV,” a legendary Canadian sketch comedy show.
She won her second Emmy in 2020 as “Schitt’s Creek” swept the awards ceremony’s comedy categories.
O’Hara most recently performed in the hit TV show “The Last Of Us” and “The Studio,” an Apple TV+ series for which she earned an Emmy nomination.
Here are some of the memories shared on social media.
Dan Levy, who co-starred with O’Hara for six seasons on “Schitt’s Creek,” paid tribute on Instagram, calling it “a gift” to have spent years in the glow of her brilliance.
Actor Macaulay Culkin, who starred in the classic “Home Alone” series as O’Hara’s character’s son, Kevin, shared an emotional tribute to the actress on Instagram.
“Mama. I thought we had time,” wrote Culkin, with a picture of them both from their time in the movie “Home Alone” and a photo of them years later.
Prime Minister Mark Carney joined Canadians and fans mourning the loss of O’Hara.
“Canada has lost a legend. My thoughts are with her family, friends, and all those who loved her work on screen. She will be dearly missed.”
Emmy-nominated actor Pedro Pascal, who acted alongside O’Hara in season 2 of “The Last of Us,” posted a photo with his late co-star with a short caption on Instagram.
“There is less light in my world,” he wrote. “This lucky world that had you, will keep you, always.”
Sarah Polley, a Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker, posted to Instagram that O’Hara “was the kindest and the classiest. How could she also have been the funniest person in the world? And she was at the very top of her game.”
Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X about O’Hara’s “rare gift for comedy.”
Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Michael Bublé wrote on Instagram, “Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it,” in response to O’Hara’s death.
“She wasn’t just a legendary artist, actor and comedian. She was an ambassador for Canada in the truest sense: brilliant, fearless, deeply original, and so full of humanity. She made the world laugh, but she also made people feel seen,” Bublé wrote.
Ike Barinholtz, who starred alongside O’Hara on the comedy series “The Studio” wrote on Instagram that he was “incredibly grateful” to spent time the time he did with her.
Canadian comedian Tom Green took to X to share his condolences on the passing of O’Hara, calling her a “comedy legend.”
“She’s kept me and millions of others entertained throughout my lifetime — for her brilliant work on SCTV, to Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, Schitt’s Creek, and so many other film and television classics,” wrote Green.
American filmmaker and actor Ron Howard called the death of O’Hara “shattering news.”
“What a wonderful person, artist and collaborator. I was lucky enough to direct, produce and act in projects with her and she was simply growing more brilliant with each year.”
Seth Rogen, Canadian comedian, actor and filmmaker who starred alongside O’Hara in “The Studio,” wrote, “She made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it.”
While facing a must-win leadership vote at the Conservative Party’s national convention in Calgary on Friday, Pierre Poilievre also took to social media to praise O’Hara.
“Anaida and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Canadian comedic legend Catherine O’Hara,” he wrote. “She brought joy and laughter to generations of Canadians and showed the best of Canadian talent to audiences around the world. Her talent and warmth left a lasting mark on our culture.”
American actress and model Brooke Shields shared a clip on X of O’Hara portraying Shields on “SCTV.” “Comedy won’t be the same without her,” she wrote.
Canadian media personality and television host George Stroumboulopoulos called O’Hara a “comedy legend.”
American actor and producer Hank Azaria said that comedy won’t be the same without O’Hara.
Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield also wrote on social media that O’Hara was a great example of “grit, talent, originality and laughter-filled optimism.”
Scarborough native, actor and comedian Gary Dee reminisced “one of the highlights of his career,” the time he presented O’Hara’s Academy Icon award at the Canadian Screen Awards.
Spooky American filmmaker Tim Burton memorialized O’Hara with a behind-the-scenes snapshot of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Michael Keaton, American actor who starred alongside O’Hara in the first Beetlejuice said that their bond predated the iconic film.
With files from the Associated Press
