Los Angeles: Legendary actress Catherine O’Hara, who made 90s kids laugh for decades with her brilliant comic timing and somehow broke their hearts, has died at the age of 71.
Ever since news of his death broke, it has shocked and heartbroken fans around the world, especially those who grew up watching their favorite star in everything from holiday classics to sharp, offbeat TV comedies.
O’Hara had that rare kind of screen presence, the kind that didn’t require shouting. She could steal a scene with just a glance, a pause or a perfectly timed line. Whether she was playing a frantic mother, a dramatic diva, or a cheeky socialite, she always felt real.
Add Zee News as favorite source
The actress first caught the attention of the audience with the famous Canadian sketch show ‘Second City Television’ (SCTV) in the late 70s. Along with great comedians like John Candy, Eugene Levy and Rick Moranis, O’Hara helped shape the sense of humor of an entire generation. His characters were strange and fearless, exactly the kind of comedy that sticks.
However, to many people around the world, she will always be Kevin McAllister’s mother. In ‘Home Alone,’ O’Hara played Kate McCallister, a terrified, determined mother racing across the world to get back to her son. The film became a holiday ritual and his performance gave it an emotional heartbeat.
Then in 2015, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ came and with it came Moira Rose. With wigs, dramatic costumes and an accent no one could recognize, O’Hara turned Moira into a television icon. What could have just been a joke turned into something much deeper: A woman clinging to dignity while learning to start afresh. The role earned him an Emmy Award and endeared him to a whole new generation.
She also made her mark in cult favorites like “Beetlejuice,” where she played the dramatic, art-obsessed Delia Deetz, and in “Best in Show,” where her role as Cookie Flake remains one of comedy’s great performances.
In the following years, he continued to surprise his fans with stellar performances, from Netflix’s ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ to Apple TV+’s ‘The Studio’. Even in guest roles, like her appearance on ’30 Rock,’ she made every moment count.
O’Hara was born on March 4, 1954, and grew up in Toronto. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she joined the city’s Second City company at the age of 20, first working as an understudy for Gilda Radner and joining the main cast when Radner left to become part of the original Saturday Night Live ensemble.
O’Hara died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a brief illness. Although the actress is no longer with us, her iconic voice, unique comic timing and enduring spirit will always live on in the hearts of her fans.