Catherine O'Hara: A Legendary Performer and Comedy Icon

Legend should not be a word used lightly, but in this case, it’s accurate. News broke today that the legendary performer Catherine O’Hara died at the age of 71. This information inspired an outpouring of appreciation for a performer who spent decades making fans laugh. Just in 2025, O’Hara played an integral role in the HBO hit, The Last of Us, giving Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) some much-needed therapy. Her character, Gail, injected the dour series with levity in the sophomore season with her straight-shooter personality. Pascal, among many others, came out of the woodwork to celebrate her.

“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always,” Pascal posted on Instagram. Her former Home Alone co-star, Macaulay Culkin, also paid tribute to his movie mom in a heartwarming post, ending it with: “I love you. I’ll see you later.”

Just last year, she was a highlight of Seth Rogen’s industry comedy, The Studio, and was anticipated to return for the sophomore season. These acknowledgments demonstrate what an icon she was to those around her, as well as her fans. Genuinely one of the funniest performers of her generation, she radiated light and warmth during her long career.

Catherine O’Hara Was Iconic For a Reason

Catherine O’Hara appealed to a massive audience, touching almost every genre as she did so. Even at the beginning of her career, she was impressive, co-creating the sketch comedy show, Second City Television, which she collaborated on with Eugene Levy. The two were in several of Christopher Guest's films, where she showed off her comedy chops. Films like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind were calling cards for the actor, who would only rise from there.

Her comedic timing led her to more mainstream films, such as Beetlejuice, where she plays the opportunistic sculptress Delia Deetz in the gothic horror comedy. Intrigued about the prospect of monetizing a poltergeist in their house, Delia is eventually taken aback by Beetlejuice’s (Michael Keaton) antics. This collaboration with Tim Burton brought her to one of the most classic films for nostalgic fans: The Nightmare Before Christmas. O’Hara voiced the character of Sally, the rag-doll love interest in the stop-motion film. The Nightmare Before Christmas is still in the pop culture zeitgeist because of its relevance and what O’Hara brought to the role. Even though Sally is not conventional in any way, she finds love with the Pumpkin King. This was one of many of Burton’s films that remarked on the beauty of the macabre, and O’Hara’s touching rendition of "Sally’s Song" is heartbreaking.

Fans of the ‘90s will always appreciate her as Kevin’s mom (Macaulay Culkin) in Home Alone, but her career didn’t start and stop there. She reunited with her SCTV co-creator, Levy, for the phenomenal comedy, Schitt’s Creek. The Canadian production also included Levy’s son, Daniel Levy, who was the series’ creator. Initially, O’Hara only agreed to appear in the pilot, but once it was picked up, there was no backing away from the perfect series. O’Hara later thanked the Levys for writing an older female character who was still wholly authentic. Schitt’s Creek was a gift, opting to view the world through the prism of optimism instead of pessimism. Similarly, O’Hara was a talent who connected with audiences. Rewatching her most accomplished roles is the best way to celebrate a true icon.