Steve Martin and Martin Short paused their comedy show in Austin, Texas, to honor the late Catherine O’Hara, raising a glass to their longtime collaborator just hours after her death was announced. O’Hara, known for her roles in SCTV and Schitt’s Creek, died at age 71 following a brief illness. Fellow stars from her career shared heartfelt messages mourning the loss of the comedy legend.
Catherine O’Hara, the acclaimed actress and comedian, passed away on January 31, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, her agency CAA confirmed. She was 71. That same evening, during a performance of “The Best of Steve Martin and Martin Short” in Austin, Texas, Martin Short and Steve Martin took a moment to pay tribute to O’Hara, a close friend and collaborator.
Standing on stage with a large image of O’Hara projected behind them, Short shared a personal reflection. “Catherine O’Hara, I met her when she was 18 years of age, and all these years later, she has been the greatest, most brilliant, kindest, sweetest angel that any of us worked with,” he said. He then toasted, adding, “So god bless Catherine.” Short first met O’Hara on the Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV), which aired from 1976 to 1984. Martin had previously collaborated with her on the 1994 film A Simple Twist of Fate, directed by Gillies MacKinnon.
O’Hara’s career highlights include her Emmy-winning role as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, which ran for six seasons on CBC Television from 2015 to 2020. The series earned her an Emmy and a Golden Globe, and swept awards in its final season, including Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys. She began performing with Toronto’s Second City Theatre in 1974 and co-created SCTV, where she earned an Emmy for writing and four nominations. Notable characters included the lounge singer Lola Heatherton.
Tributes poured in from colleagues. Macaulay Culkin, her Home Alone co-star, wrote on Instagram: “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more... I love you. I’ll see you later.” Seth Rogen, who worked with her on The Studio, shared: “Getting to work with her was a true honour. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous... This is just devastating.”
From the Schitt’s Creek cast, Dan Levy posted: “What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years.” Eugene Levy, who collaborated with her for over 50 years from Second City to SCTV and Christopher Guest films like Best in Show, stated: “Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today... I will miss her.” Annie Murphy recalled her laugh as “a perpetual Yes, And…” while Emily Hampshire praised her kindness and generosity, noting how O’Hara elevated every scene.
