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Catherine O'Hara

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Catherine O'Hara
OC
O'Hara in 2024
Born
Catherine Anne O'Hara

(1954-03-04) March 4, 1954 (age 70)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • United States
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • screenwriter
Years active1974–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1992)​
Children2
RelativesMary Margaret O'Hara (sister)

Catherine Anne O'Hara OC[1] (born March 4, 1954)[2] is a Canadian-American actress, comedian, and screenwriter. She is known for her comedy work on Second City Television (1976–1984) and Schitt's Creek (2015–2020) and in films such as After Hours (1985), Beetlejuice (1988), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Home Alone (1990), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). Her other film appearances include the mockumentary films written and directed by Christopher Guest: Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006).

O'Hara won the 1982 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for SCTV Network, the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1999 film The Life Before This, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for the 2010 television film Temple Grandin. From 2015 to 2020, she starred as Moira Rose on the CBC sitcom Schitt's Creek, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Early life

[edit]

Catherine Anne O'Hara was born on March 4, 1954[3] and she grew up in Toronto, Ontario, the sixth of seven children. She is of Irish descent[4] and was raised Catholic.[5]

Career

[edit]
O'Hara in 2005

O'Hara started her comedy career in 1974 as a cast member of The Second City in her hometown, Toronto.[6] She was an understudy for Gilda Radner until Radner left for Saturday Night Live.[7][8] Two years later, this theatre troupe created the sketch comedy show SCTV, for which O'Hara became a regular performer.[7] In the late 1970s, she provided voice-overs for a number of cartoons, work which would continue throughout her career. During a short time in the early 1980s when SCTV was in between network deals, she was hired to replace Ann Risley when Saturday Night Live was being retooled in 1981. However, she quit the show without ever appearing on air, choosing to go back to SCTV when the show signed on with NBC.[9][10]

O'Hara began her career on television, apart from SCTV, in the mid-1970s. She first appeared on television in a small sketch role as a maid in a 1975 Wayne and Shuster special on CBC. Later, she appeared in the 1976 television film The Rimshots, the children's television series Coming Up Rosie for a season (1976–77), and television specials, such as Witch's Night Out and Intergalactic Thanksgiving. But it was her performances on SCTV, which began airing locally in Southern Ontario in the fall of 1976, that earned her fame in Canada. The show gradually built up a national and then international following in syndication. O'Hara left SCTV for a time, missing the 1980–81 season, but returned to the show in time for its pickup by the NBC television network in the US, when it became known as SCTV Network 90. O'Hara's work as a writer on the show earned her an Emmy Award for outstanding writing and two Emmy Award nominations. She left SCTV again prior to its fifth season in 1982, but did return for occasional guest appearances through the show's end in 1984.

O'Hara has appeared in a number of television series and television films and continues to work in television. During the 1990s, she made guest appearances on Tales from the Crypt, Oh Baby, Morton & Hayes and The Larry Sanders Show. She served as actress and director on Dream On and The Outer Limits, the revival of the '60s series of the same name. O'Hara has guest-starred on top-rated television series including Six Feet Under and Curb Your Enthusiasm. In May 2008, it was announced that she had signed on to star in the upcoming ABC dramedy Good Behavior.[11] Her role in the 2010 television film Temple Grandin earned her three award nominations: a Primetime Emmy Award, a Satellite Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

O'Hara's star on Canada's Walk of Fame

O'Hara has also had a successful career in film. She made her feature debut in the 1980 film Double Negative, which also starred her SCTV co-stars John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Joe Flaherty.[12] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, O'Hara appeared in many supporting roles, including Martin Scorsese's After Hours (1985) and Heartburn (1986), with Meryl Streep. She appeared in films like Beetlejuice (1988) and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), as well as the blockbuster Home Alone (1990) and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). Also in 1992, O'Hara worked alongside Jeff Daniels in the comedy There Goes the Neighborhood.

O'Hara continued to appear in many films during the 1990s and the beginning of the 21st century. She received roles in four of Christopher Guest's mockumentary films, three of which earned her awards and nominations: Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Her role in 1999's The Life Before This won her a Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. She also appeared in the tenth series of the UK version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? In 2006, she starred with Christina Ricci in the fantasy film Penelope. O'Hara has served as a voice artist in a number of animated films, including The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Bartok the Magnificent (1999), Chicken Little (2005), Over the Hedge (2006), Monster House (2006), Brother Bear 2 (2006), Frankenweenie (2012), The Addams Family (2019), Extinct (2021), Elemental (2023), and The Wild Robot (2024).[13]

From 2015 to 2020, O'Hara co-starred as Moira Rose in the CBC sitcom Schitt's Creek, alongside Eugene Levy, with whom she had worked on TV, in films, and as a Second City cast member on stage as far back as 1974. Her performance in Schitt's Creek earned her six Canadian Screen Awards for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.[14] She swept the five major TV awards for the 6th and final season, winning a TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy, a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series.[15]

She also appeared as Dr. Georgina Orwell in the first season of the Netflix black comedy drama series A Series of Unfortunate Events, which premiered in 2017.[16] Two of her episodes were directed by her husband Bo Welch who also served as production designer for the series. She was the only cast member from the 2004 film adaptation to be re-cast in the TV series as well.

She appears on the revival of another Canadian sketch comedy staple The Kids in the Hall, in its second episode as Charlene, a Friend of the Kids in the Hall.[17] O'Hara reprises her role as Delia Deetz in the Beetlejuice sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in 2024.[18]

Personal life

[edit]
O'Hara with Welch in 2024

In 1983, O'Hara told Rolling Stone, "I'm pretty much a good Catholic girl at heart."[19] O'Hara met production designer Bo Welch on the set of Beetlejuice.[20] They married in 1992 and have two sons, Matthew (b. 1994) and Luke (b. 1997).[21][22] Her sister is singer-songwriter Mary Margaret O'Hara; Catherine is a singer-songwriter in her own right, having written and performed songs in Christopher Guest's film A Mighty Wind.

O'Hara was named honorary mayor of Brentwood, Los Angeles, for 2021.[23]

She has situs inversus, a condition where major internal organs are reversed from their normal positions.[24]

O’Hara still maintains a close friendship with Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin, and was present when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame per his request.[25]

She holds dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship.[26]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1980 Nothing Personal Audrey
Double Negative Judith
1983 Rock & Rule Aunt Edith (voice) [27]
1985 After Hours Gail
1986 Heartburn Betty
1988 Beetlejuice Delia Deetz
1990 Dick Tracy Texie Garcia
Betsy's Wedding Gloria Henner
Home Alone Kate McCallister
Little Vegas Lexie
1992 There Goes the Neighborhood Jessica Lodge Internationally re-titled Paydirt
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Kate McCallister
1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas Sally / Shock (voice) [27]
1994 The Paper Susan
Wyatt Earp Allie Earp
A Simple Twist of Fate April Simon
1995 Tall Tale Calamity Jane
1996 Waiting for Guffman Sheila Albertson
The Last of the High Kings Cathleen
1997 Pippi Longstocking Mrs. Prysselius (voice) [27]
1998 Home Fries Beatrice Lever
1999 The Life Before This Sheena
Bartok the Magnificent Ludmilla (voice) Direct-to-video[27]
2000 Best in Show Cookie Fleck
Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big Lorna Mae Loon (voice) Short film[27]
2001 Speaking of Sex Connie Barker
2002 Orange County Cindy Beugler
Searching for Debra Winger Herself Documentary
2003 A Mighty Wind Mickey Crabbe
2004 Surviving Christmas Christine Valco
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Justice Strauss
2005 Game 6 Lillian Rogan
Chicken Little Tina (voice) [27]
2006 Over the Hedge Penny (voice) [27]
Monster House Mrs. Walters (voice) [27]
Brother Bear 2 Kata (voice) Direct-to-video[27]
Penelope Jessica Wilhern
For Your Consideration Marilyn Heck
Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses Rowena (voice) Direct-to-video[27]
2009 Away We Go Gloria Farlander
2009 Where the Wild Things Are Judith (voice) [27]
2010 Killers Mrs. Kornfeldt
2011 A Monster in Paris Madame Carlotta (voice) [27]
2012 Frankenweenie Susan Frankenstein / Gym Teacher / Weird Girl (voices) [27]
2013 A.C.O.D. Melissa
The Right Kind of Wrong Tess
2014 When Marnie Was There Marnie (old) (voice)
2015 Being Canadian Herself Documentary
2019 The Addams Family Grandma Frump (voice) [27]
2020 Canada: Far and Wide Herself (voice)
2021 Extinct Alma (voice) [27]
Back Home Again Mayor Owl (voice) Short film
2023 Elemental Brook Ripple (voice) [27]
Pain Hustlers Jackie Drake
2024 Argylle Ruth
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Delia Deetz
The Wild Robot Pinktail (voice)
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1975 Wayne and Shuster Various Episode: "1975 Show #2"
1975–77 Coming Up Rosie Marna Wallbacker
1976–84 SCTV Various Main; Seasons 1 & 2
Main; Season 4 (renamed SCTV Network 90)
Guest; Season 5
Guest; Season 6 (renamed SCTV Channel)
Also writer for seasons 1, 2, 4 & 6
Served as writer for The Best of SCTV
1978 Witch's Night Out Malicious (voice) CBC/NBC television special[27]
1979 Intergalactic Thanksgiving Ma Spademinder (voice) Television short[27]
1980 Easter Fever Scarlett O'Hare (voice) CBC television special
From Cleveland Various Television pilot
Also writer
You've Come a Long Way, Katie Chris Dougherty Miniseries
1981 The Steve Allen Comedy Hour Various Episode: "May 29, 1981"
1984 The New Show 3 episodes
1985 George Burns Comedy Week Sally Episode: "The Dynamite Girl"
1986 Really Weird Tales Theresa Sharpe Episode: "I'll Die Loving"; also writer
1987 Trying Times Rebecca Episode: "Get a Job"
1988 The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley Miss Malone (voice) Main role
Saturday Night Live Herself Episode: "Matthew Broderick / The Sugarcubes"
1989 I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood Nancy Mae HBO television special
Andrea Martin... Together Again Various Television special
Also writer for special material
1990 The Dave Thomas Comedy Show Episode: "#1.5"
Dream On Irma Episode: "555-HELL"
Directed episode: "And Your Little Dog, Too"
1991 Morton & Hayes Amelia von Astor Episode: "Daffy Dicks"
Married... with Children Female Dog Episode: "Look Who's Barking"
Saturday Night Live Herself / Host Episode: "Catherine O'Hara / R.E.M."
1992 Episode: "Catherine O'Hara / 10,000 Maniacs"
The Larry Sanders Show Herself Episode: "The Talk Show Episode"
1993 The Hidden Room Laurel Brody Episode: "The First Battle"
1994 Tales from the Crypt Geraldine Ferrett Episode: "Let the Punishment Fit the Crime"
1997 The Outer Limits Becka Paulson Episode: "The Revelations of Becka Paulson"
Directed episode: "Glyphic"
1998 Whose Line Is It Anyway? Herself 3 episodes
1999 Oh Baby Roberta Hunter Episode: "Discrimination"
2000 MAD TV Woman on Blind Date Episode: "24"
2001 Committed Liz Larsen Main role
2002 Bram & Alice Ms. O'Connor Episode: "Pilot"
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Catherine (voice) Episode: "Bakery Ben"[27]
2003 Odd Job Jack Claudia Johnson Episode: "Broke & Broker"
2003–05 Six Feet Under Carol Ward 4 episodes
2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Bam Bam Episode: "Funkhouser's Crazy Sister"
2009–2011 Glenn Martin, DDS Jackie Martin (voice) Main role
2012 Leslie Leslie 2 episodes
30 Rock Pearline Episode: "Governor Dunston"
2013 The Greatest Event in Television History Muriel Rush Episode: "Too Close for Comfort"
2015 What Lives Inside Sarah Delaney Miniseries
2015–2020 Schitt's Creek Moira Rose Main role
Also consulting producer for seasons 2–6
2015 Modern Family Dr. Debra Radcliffe Episode: "Clean Out Your Junk Drawer"
2016 Sofia the First Morgana (voice) Episode: "Gone With the Wand"
Harvey Beaks Miley (voice) Episode: "The New Bugaboo/The Case of the Missing Pancake"
2016–18 Skylanders Academy Kaossandra (voice) Main role
2017–18 A Series of Unfortunate Events Dr. Georgina Orwell 3 episodes
2018 The Magic School Bus Rides Again Aunt Tennelli, Teresina Tennelli (voice) 2 episodes[27]
2019–2020 The Last Kids on Earth Skaelka (voice) 6 episodes[28][27]
2020 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Herself 2 episodes
2022 Central Park Gwendolyn Swish (voice) Episode: "The PAIGE-riarchy!"
Performed the song "Light The Match", written by Danny Elfman
The Kids in the Hall Charlene Episode 2
2025 The Last of Us † TBA Season 2
2025 The Studio † Amy

Television films

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1976 The Rimshots Maggie Retooled as Custard Pie with a different cast
1985 The Last Polka Lemon Twin
1986 Dave Thomas: The Incredible Time Travels of Henry Osgood Marie Antoinette
1997 Hope Muriel Macswain
1999 Late Last Night Shrink
2004 The Wool Cap Gloria
2010 Temple Grandin Aunt Ann

Music videos

[edit]
Year Title Artist(s) Role Ref.
2024 "Electric Energy" Ariana DeBose, Boy George and Nile Rodgers Herself [29]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Catherine O'Hara

References

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  1. ^ "Ms. Catherine O'Hara". Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. September 19, 2022. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "Birthdays". The Modesto Bee. The Associated Press. March 4, 2019. p. 2A. Actress Catherine O'Hara is 65.
  3. ^ "Catherine O'Hara". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA). Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Onstad, Katrina (April 12, 2005)"Inductee: Mary Margaret O'Hara". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  5. ^ "Proust Questionnaire: Catherine O'Hara". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  6. ^ "The Second City". secondcity.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Lidz, Franz (October 13, 1986). "Once the Comedy Queen of SCTV, Reclusive Catherine O'Hara Swears She Isn't Just Lying Down on the Job". People. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Kavner, Lucas (February 10, 2015). "Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy on Their Onscreen Romances and More Than 40 Years of Comedy Together". Vulture. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  9. ^ "Catherine The Great". thestar.com. Toronto. June 2, 2007. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  10. ^ "SCTV Shoots For First". rickmoranisfanpage.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  11. ^ Waldman, Allison (May 2, 2008) "Oh, good! Catherine O'Hara to star in ABC pilot". aoltv.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2011. Catherine O'Hara to star in ABC pilot
  12. ^ "Catherine O'Hara". The Second City. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  13. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (November 26, 2018). "Martin Short & Catherine O'Hara Join 'Addams Family' Cast". Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  14. ^ "The Canadian Screen Awards: Call 'Em The 'Candys' From Now On". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  15. ^ "Catherine O'Hara just became 4th person to sweep all 5 major TV prizes in a single season with SAG Award win". April 4, 2021. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  16. ^ Sean Fitz-Gerald (January 13, 2017). "Every 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' Actor You Need to Know About". Thrillist. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  17. ^ "It's Head-Crushing Time! Prime Video Announces the Premiere Date and Trailer Release for Canadian Amazon Original Series The Kids in the Hall". newswire.ca. April 13, 2022. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (November 30, 2023). "Tim Burton says 'Beetlejuice 2' has officially wrapped production". CNN. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  19. ^ Hirschberg, Lynn (September 15, 1983). "Catherine O'Hara Needs a Rest". Rolling Stone.
  20. ^ "How The Creative And Unusual World Of Tim Burton's 'Beetlejuice' Became A Beautiful Reality". UPROXX. May 4, 2015. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  21. ^ "Catherine O'Hara's Kids Are 'Funny' Like Their Mom! Meet Matthew and Luke". March 4, 2021. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "Catherine O'Hara". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on November 19, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  23. ^ "Catherine O'Hara Named Honorary Mayor of Brentwood". February 4, 2021. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  24. ^ "Wow! Catherine O'Hara's heart and organs are flipped! 1:0001. Situs Inversus w/ Katherine Hall". YouTube. July 7, 2021. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021.
  25. ^ "Macaulay Culkin Wipes Away Tears as He Reunites with 'Home Alone' Mom Catherine O'Hara at Walk of Fame Ceremony". Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  26. ^ O'Hara, Catherine (May 4, 2016). "Samantha Bee". Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Catherine O'Hara (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  28. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 13, 2019). "'The Last Kids On Earth': Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Catherine O'Hara and Others Set For Netflix Animated Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  29. ^ Anthony Hernandez, Brian (January 26, 2024). "Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson and Catherine O'Hara Lip-Sync for Their Lives in 'Electric Energy' Music Video". People. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
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