Catherine O’Hara was born to play Kevin’s mom. In every film and television production in which she appeared, O’Hara seemed born to play her part.
The Toronto native was also born with a rare condition in which her internal organs were reversed in her body – a condition which may or may not have contributed to her leaving this earth on January 30, at age 71.
At the time of writing, O”Hara’s cause of death has not been disclosed. She had been ill for a short time, it was reported.
Catherine O’Hara was a wonderful woman, it can be said with certainty – even by all of those who didn’t know her. She was, obviously, so very funny – and very intelligent; funny people are inherently smart. O”Hara had such a lovely voice, and her explosive laugh was famous. Framed by red or blonde or brunette hair, her eyes smiled. You didn’t need to listen to her being interviewed to tell that the SCTV-spawned legend was a good person; empathetic. And O”Hara was such a uniquely fabulous actress.
I’m lucky to be just old enough to remember O’Hara being a member of that iconic Canadian sketch-comedy troupe, and her big American break in the cult-classic film “After Hours.” By O”Hara’s star-making role in “Beetlejuice,” I was smitten. I’d had a bit of a crush on her for decades. Smart and beautiful and funny is such an irresistible combination, and she presented those qualities so genuinely, so unpretentiously, throughout her career.
My heart aches for Eugene Levy, her incredibly close friend and frequent co-star – from SCTV to “Schitt’s Creek.” I think of their hilarious and ultimately poignant pairing as the revived folk-music duo Mitch & Mickey in “A Mighty Wind” – one of the many genius, Canadian comedy-sourced mockumentaries in which they starred. Levy’s tender heart, naturally in pieces today; I can’t imagine. O’Hara left behind a husband, two sons – and a second, onscreen spouse who loved her so. So many of us did, in our own ways.
Goodbye, Ms. O”Hara. You were so damn wonderful.
