Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek Star And Emmy Winner, Dies Aged 71

Emmy-winning actor Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71.

On Friday night, the Schitt’s Creek actor’s agents confirmed that the Canadian-American performer had died at her home in Los Angeles following what they described as a “brief illness”.

Catherine’s career began as a cast member on the Canadian sketch series Second City Television, for which she won her first Emmy in 1982.

From there, she branched out into acting, often in comedic roles, making appearances in films like Beetlejuice, Home Alone and its sequel, After Hours and Christopher Guest mockumentaries like Best In Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration.

She was also a prolific voice actor, performing in the likes of Disney’s Chicken Little, the Apple TV+ comedy Central Park and The Nightmare Before Christmas, in which she provided both the speaking and singing voice for Sally.

However, to many she’ll be best remembered for her work as the incomparable Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek.

The show reunited Catherine with her former Second City and Best In Show co-star Eugene Levy, alongside his son Dan, who was also the show’s co-creator, and Annie Murphy.

Schitt’s Creek became a sleeper hit after its premiere in 2015, eventually running for six seasons and earning all four of its main cast members Emmy wins.

Catherine also won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors’ Guild Award for her performance as Moira in 2020.

Last year, Catherine made a guest appearance in the second season of The Last Of Us, playing the therapist of Pedro Pascal’s character Joel, and joined the cast of Seth Rogen’s hit comedy The Studio.

She played studio-head-turned-producer Patty Leigh in the Apple TV+ comedy, earning yet another nomination at both the Emmys and Golden Globes.

Catherine is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their sons Matthew and Luke.