‘What a gift’: Schitt’s Creek cast drop devastating tributes to the iconic Catherine O’Hara

The world lost an icon last week when Catherine O’Hara, star of Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, passed away at the age of 71.

Catherine O’Hara had been a staple of Hollywood for decades, racking up dozens of acting credits in flicks like Beetlejuice, Home Alone, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and countless other blockbusters. She also had a prolific TV career, lending her talents to projects such as Second City Television, Saturday Night Live, Modern Family, and The Last of Us.

In 2015, lives were changed when Catherine O’Hara was cast in Schitt’s Creek, which earned her a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe. Iconic doesn’t begin to describe the character of Moira Rose, and she certainly left an impression on both the audience and her comedy co-stars.

Here’s what they’ve said.

Eugene Levy worked with Catherine O’Hara for decades

Even before Schitt’s Creek, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara were intimately familiar with one another. They first worked together in 1976’s Second City Television, and again in Christopher Guest’s three mockumentary films.

In a statement shortly after the announcement, he said: “Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today.

“I had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O’Hara for over fifty years. From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to SCTV, to the movies we did with Chris Guest, to our six glorious years on ‘Schitt’s Creek.’

“I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship. And I will miss her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and the entire O’Hara family.”

Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy grew up with Catherine O’Hara

Most Read

The truth behind wild picture of ‘Jeffrey Epstein alive in Israel’ has finally been revealed

Here are Bad Bunny’s translated Super Bowl lyrics, so you know why people are angry

I worked on the hospital ward with Lucy Letby at the time of the deaths – here’s what it was like

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Levy (@instadanjlevy)

If you somehow weren’t aware, Dan Levy is the creator of Schitt’s Creek, and also the real-life son of his on-screen dad, Eugene Levy – the last name is a major clue. Even before casting her as his mother, Dan knew and loved Catherine.

“What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years. Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family,” he wrote on Instagram.

“It’s hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and every member of her big, beautiful family.”

Sarah Levy said her passing ‘cuts deep’

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Levy (@sarahplevy)

Dan Levy’s sister, who also played Twyla in the show, said in an Instagram post: “This one cuts deep. What an honour it has been to know and work with and love Catherine O’Hara. Cheers to all that you brought to this world – you will be so, so missed.”

Catherine’s on-screen daughter celebrated her life

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Annie Murphy (@annefrances)

Sharing an array of pictures and a few personal anecdotes, Annie Murphy said that Catherine O’Hara was her mentor on Schitt’s Creek.

“Ha-ha-HAAAA?!?! Her laugh was a perpetual Yes, And… It challenged anyone who heard it to join in, and be as delighted as she was. Gosh, were we ever lucky to have her,” she captioned her post.

She also shared the lessons she learned from the iconic actress:

• Giggles always. Jokes first. As long as they feel right in your bones
• When you find people you love and make you laugh, stick with your lovers and laughers
• Everybody on set is part of a community who (ideally) want to make something great – treat them as such
• Make suggestions, even if that means overstepping sometimes. Acknowledge if it doesn’t work. Be appreciative to those who are appreciative when it does

‘Working with her and Eugene was a dream come true’

Chris Elliott, who played Roland on Schitt’s Creek, told USA Today: “Working with her and Eugene was a dream come true for me – made all the more special because Catherine was such a warm-hearted, generous and humble human being.

“I will always remember the laughs we shared on screen and off, and I’ll never forget our fun shopping spree at Joe Fresh.”

Jennifer Robertson called Catherine a ‘magical gift’

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jennifer Robertson (@frennifer)

Taking to Instagram, Jocelyn’s actress said: “Being in Catherine O’Hara’s orbit was a beautiful and magical gift. She was an absolute star who never understood why people made such a fuss over her. Catherine was truly one of a kind. Her passing is a loss for everyone who knew and loved her, and a loss for Canada. You will be deeply missed Catherine.”

Stevie’s actress posted a lengthy message

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by emily hampshire (@emilyhampshire)

“I find this impossible to believe. There was no one more alive than Catherine. She filled every moment with more life than most of us expend in days. I was lucky enough to work with her at the beginning of my career. She was just as kind and generous then as she was after six years of working together on Schitt’s. That’s simply who she was with everyone,” Emily Hampshire wrote.

“So pathologically kind and generous that it inevitably seeped into her characters. I think that’s why you can’t help but love Moira’s blind narcissism—it’s carried by something deeply human underneath. I remember the scene where Moira sends Stevie off to sing her big number in Cabaret. It was originally written in classic Moira-isms, but Catherine wanted to make it more specific and truthful, so she rewrote it to say, “you are very very cool.” She elevated everything.”

She said she will “cherish” every moment, but will “miss her laugh most of all.”

Brb, just bawling my eyes out.

For more like this, like The Tab on Facebook.

Featured image credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock and CBC