Eugene Levy has honored Catherine O’Hara following her passing at the age of 71 on Friday, January 30.
Variety reported the news from her manager, confirming that O’Hara passed away at her Los Angeles residence after a short illness. The cause of death remains undisclosed, and no further details have been provided about her passing.
Messages of condolence have poured in for O’Hara, including from her Home Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin. He expressed: “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. 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.”
In recent years, O’Hara gained perhaps her greatest recognition for her lead role in Schitt’s Creek, a show created by Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy.
Eugene Levy reflected on his time working with O’Hara as an ‘honor,’ stating: “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.”
Dan Levy also released a statement, describing his experience working with the actress as a ‘gift.’
He shared: “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. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke, and every member of her big, beautiful family.”
Pedro Pascal also paid tribute after working with O’Hara on HBO’s The Last of Us.
“Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always. The one and ONLY #CatherineOHara,” he wrote on Instagram.