Catherine O’Hara cemented her legacy in Hollywood long ago, and her fans and peers are paying tribute to the late 71-year-old actress. Among the most touching statements was from her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin, whom Catherine honored at his Walk of Fame induction ceremony in 2023.
Read the celebrity tributes for Catherine as Hollywood reacts to the veteran actress’ death.
Macaulay Culkin
“Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more,” Macaulay wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. “I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”
Pedro Pascal
“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful,” Pedro captioned an Instagram post in honor of his late The Last of Us co-star. “There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always. The one and ONLY #CatherineOHara.”
Justin Theroux
“Oh Catherine. You will be so so missed,” Justin wrote next to a photo of his late Beetlejuice Beetlejuice co-star’s chair from the set.
Melanie Lynskey
Melanie penned a lengthy tribute to Instagram, which began with, “So grateful I got to tell her what she meant to me- how she inspired me, shaped my sense of humour and understanding of the work we do, that she was the pinnacle of greatness to me.”
Alongside a headshot of Catherine, Melanie’s caption continued, “I’m sure every actor she met told her similar things. She did not behave as though she’d heard it a million times, she listened and accepted it with grace and with and tremendous kindness. Thank you to @jasonreitman for inviting me to do the Film Independent LACMA reading where I got to work with my hero and witness her genius first hand. It was incredible to watch her work and be in her presence. I’ll never forget a minute of it. That day, and again on an overlapping shoot day on Away We Go, I saw her be nothing short of wonderful to every single person she encountered, from the director to the PAs. When people say someone ‘lit up a room,’ this is what they mean.”
“She was radiant; it was kind of otherworldly. Her talent was singular,” Melanie concluded. “There’s been nobody like her before and there won’t be again. What a genius. What a beautiful person. My heart is with her family and dear friends who adored her.”
Michael Bublé
Michael shared a photo of Catherine to his Instagram. He wrote in his caption, “Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it. Catherine O’Hara was one of a kind. A rare light in this world and her passing hits with a weight I can’t fully put into words.”
“She wasn’t just a legendary artist, actor and comedian,” Michael continued. “She was an ambassador for Canada in the truest sense: brilliant, fearless, deeply original, and so full of humanity. She made the world laugh, but she also made people feel seen. As an artist, she inspired me more than she’ll ever know. She set the bar for what it means to represent your country with excellence and grace and all without ever losing warmth or humility.”
Michael concluded his caption with, “My heart is broken for her family, her loved ones, and everyone who adored her, both here in Canada and around the world. If you’re grieving this loss, you’re not alone. We’re all holding a piece of this sadness together. Rest easy, Catherine. Thank you for everything.”
Seth Rogen
“Really don’t know what to say… ” Seth began his Instagram tribute. “I told O’Hara when I first met her, I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen. Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies. Getting to work with her was a true honour. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous… she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.”
Bryan Cranston
Bryan worked with Catherine on several projects, most recently The Studio. He wrote in his Instagram tribute, “I am completely devastated today upon hearing of this great lady passing away. Catherine O’Hara was a genius comedic actor, and a beautiful human being. I adored her. We worked together as husband and wife I think three or four times… I’ve lost count. And then again, just last year as rivals on The Studio.”
“Working with Catherine was like playing tennis with Venus Williams,” Bryan continued. “She never let you feel it – but you just tried to volley the ball back to her, hoping that you can come close to her level of talent. She was brilliant, and joyful. I think back on all the years where I laughed so much at what she did on screen… I have to. I need to, because now all I can do is cry. I’ll miss you. Make ‘em laugh in heaven.”
Tim Burton
“Catherine, I love you,” Tim, one of Catherine’s longest collaborators, wrote in his Instagram post. “This picture shows how much light you gave to all of us. You were a special part of my life and after life.”
Michael Keaton
“We go back before the first Beetlejuice,” Michael captioned his tribute. “She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her. Thinking about Beau as well.”
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy, who played Catherine’s on-screen husband Johnny Rose on Schitt’s Creek and was her longtime comedy partner going back to Second City Television, said in a statement, “Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today.”
He added, “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.”
Dan Levy
Dan Levy, who co-created Schitt’s Creek and played Catherine’s onscreen son, said, “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. 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.”
Chase Sui Wonders
Chase Sui Wonders, who worked with Catherine as a co-star on the Apple TV+ comedy The Studio, shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute after Catherine’s death. In her post, Wonders wrote, “You radiated goodness and light. ‘Don’t meet your heroes’ doesn’t apply to you Catherine. You had no business being as kind to me as you were but that’s just how you were with everyone. I’ll never stop pinching myself. ♥️”
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin, who starred alongside Catherine in Beetlejuice, paid tribute to the late actress by praising her singular talent. “Catherine O’Hara was one of the greatest comic talents in the movie business,” he said. “She had a quality that was all her own and my sympathy goes out to Bo and their family.”
Ike Barinholtz
Ike Barinholtz, who co-starred with Catherine in The Studio, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. “I never in a million years thought I would get to work with Catherine O’Hara let alone become friends with her,” he wrote. “So profoundly sad she’s somewhere else now. So incredibly grateful I got to spend the time I did with her. Thank you Catherine I love you.”
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep, who co-starred with Catherine in Heartburn, honored the late actress in a statement reflecting on her rare humanity and talent. “Catherine O’Hara brought love and light to our world, through whipsmart compassion for the collection of eccentrics she portrayed,” Meryl said. “Such a loss for her family and friends, and the audience she graced as friends.”
Mike Myers
Mike Myers, who rose to fame alongside Catherine as a fellow Canadian comedy icon and SCTV alum, honored the late actress in a statement following her death. “It is a very sad day for comedy and for Canada. She was one of the greatest comedy artists in history, an inspiration for millions and above all a very elegant lady.”
