Catherine O’Hara’s 10 Best Movies and TV Shows

Catherine O’Hara, a much-loved actress, has died at the age of 71. Throughout her long and successful career, she created many unforgettable characters. For decades, audiences have enjoyed her work in both movies and television, and she quickly proved herself as a talented performer, starting in improv and sketch comedy. She first gained recognition at The Second City in Toronto, then became a fan favorite on SCTV from 1976 to 1984. Unlike some comedic actors, O’Hara wasn’t afraid to take on serious roles, shining in dramas like Six Feet Under as well as the delightful comedies directed by Christopher Guest. She always brought a special and captivating presence to the screen.

It’s difficult to choose just one memorable character from O’Hara’s incredible career, but we can highlight her funniest performances and most unexpected roles. We’ll truly miss her, but thankfully, her best work in movies and television will always be available for us to enjoy.

‘Best in Show’ (2000)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Catherine O’Hara is known for her fantastic performances in Christopher Guest’s funny, documentary-style films, like Waiting for Guffman. But if we had to choose one role to highlight, it would be her portrayal of Cookie Fleck in the 2000 film Best in Show. The movie hilariously satirizes the competitive world of dog shows, and Cookie, along with her dog Winky and husband Gerry (played by Eugene Levy), travel all the way from Florida to compete at the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show.

Cookie and Gerry are a sweet and likable couple, and the movie playfully acknowledges the craziness of their situation while still treating them kindly. Catherine O’Hara often played complex characters that audiences could connect with, which is a big reason why she was so beloved. Unlike typical romantic comedy leads, her characters had goals and dreams beyond finding love, and it was always a pleasure to watch her perform. Her role as Cookie is particularly captivating.

‘A Mighty Wind’ (2003)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Christopher Guest’s mockumentary A Mighty Wind features a standout performance by Catherine O’Hara as Mickey Crabbe, a folk singer who performs as part of the duo Mitch & Mickey (with Eugene Levy as Mitch Cohen). The film boasts a hilarious cast including Parker Posey, Jennifer Coolidge, and Jane Lynch, but O’Hara’s performance is particularly memorable.

O’Hara infused her role with genuine emotion, drawing on the past connection between the characters. While she was known for comedies and embracing quirky characters, her true talent lay in being relatable. Mickey is a funny character, but O’Hara also brought a sense of vulnerability – we could feel her character’s heartbreak, and that’s what made her such a beloved actress.

‘The Last of Us’ (2025)

HBO

The second season of The Last of Us introduced a new character, Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) therapist, Gail Lynden, played brilliantly by Catherine O’Hara. O’Hara delivered a particularly powerful and emotional performance, and her scenes with Joel were truly memorable. While the season as a whole didn’t quite live up to expectations, O’Hara’s performance was definitely a highlight.

The actress who played Gail brought a lot of depth to the role, portraying a woman who is both forgiving and understandably angry towards Joel, even though she knows why he killed her husband, Eugene. She realistically depicts someone grappling with a difficult situation and personal struggles, like alcoholism. Gail is direct and doesn’t hold back, famously telling Joel, “You shot and killed my husband. I resent you for it – more than that, I hate you for it.” Despite knowing Joel’s motivations, the audience can still feel sympathy for Gail and her pain.

‘The Studio’ (2025)

Apple TV

I really enjoyed Seth Rogen’s new AppleTV+ comedy, The Studio. It’s a clever look at the stress and expectations within Hollywood, and how artists struggle to create something meaningful while also needing to make a living. A highlight for me was Catherine O’Hara as Patty Leigh, the former head of the studio. She’s absolutely brilliant! O’Hara effortlessly switches between being totally composed and then unleashing a fiery outburst – it’s fantastic to watch her play off Rogen’s character.

There are many talented comedic actors, but Catherine O’Hara was truly special. She’s particularly brilliant in the third episode, “The Note,” where Matt and his team grapple with a disastrous 45-minute addition to Ron Howard’s new film. O’Hara plays a key part in this plotline, revealing that Howard created it to pay tribute to his cousin. As always, her performance was uniquely touching, making the audience genuinely care about her character, Patty.

‘Orange County’ (2002)

Paramount Pictures

While O’Hara was known for playing eccentric characters, one of her best, but often overlooked, roles was as Cindy Beugler in the 2000s comedy Orange County. Playing the mother of Colin Hanks’ character, Shaun Brumder, she showed a remarkable ability to make any character relatable and understandable, even if they were flawed.

Catherine O’Hara breathed life into the character of Cindy, making her surprisingly endearing. A less skilled actress likely wouldn’t have been able to pull it off, considering Cindy is often absent for Shaun and frequently says the wrong thing – she even declares, “I married Bob, for you! I had sex with Bob four times for you! So how can you call me a bad mother?” – but O’Hara’s comedic timing is impeccable. In that one intense moment, you glimpse her love for her son and her desire to be a good mother, even though she struggles with how to show it. While Orange County isn’t a classic 2000s comedy – it’s definitely silly and awkward at times – O’Hara’s performance alone makes the movie worthwhile.

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (1993)

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Catherine O’Hara is incredibly versatile, seamlessly transitioning between comedic, dramatic, and voice acting roles. Many fans remember her as the voice of Sally in the classic 1993 film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. She not only voiced the character, but also performed the song ‘Sally’s Song,’ which is often considered the most emotionally powerful part of the movie. The song expresses Sally’s worries about her feelings for Jack and her desire for his well-being.

The release of The Nightmare Before Christmas happened at an interesting point in the actress’s career. It came after she once again played Kate McAllister in Home Alone 2 and a few years after memorable roles in films like Heartburn and After Hours. Unlike some actors who prefer to play similar characters, she opted for this popular animated film, which continues to spark debate – even today, people still argue whether it’s a Halloween or Christmas movie.

‘Temple Grandin’ (2010)

HBO

In the 2010 HBO movie Temple Grandin, Kathleen O’Hara portrayed Aunt Ann. The film tells the true story of Temple Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and an expert in animal behavior. O’Hara’s performance was critically acclaimed and earned her an Emmy nomination. As Aunt Ann, she plays a key role in the film, offering a supportive connection for young Temple, who has autism, and sharing heartwarming moments with her on the farm.

Everyone knew Claire Foy was a talented actress, but her role in Temple Grandin really showed she could lead a dramatic series with ease. In an interview with Vulture, she discussed a character she found particularly challenging, revealing she initially hesitated to take on the role of Ann.

When I read the story, I realized the character was simply a kind woman. However, truly memorable characters are rarely just ordinary, nice people.

‘Beetlejuice’ (1988)

Warner Bros.

Catherine O’Hara was brilliant as Delia Deetz in Tim Burton’s 1988 film, Beetlejuice, so fans were thrilled to hear she’d be returning for the 2024 sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. She has a remarkable talent for making even annoying or frustrating characters captivating to watch.

Delia is a gifted artist, but struggles as a mother. O’Hara often portrayed mothers on screen, and skillfully avoided clichés. Delia has trouble connecting with her stepdaughter, Lydia (Winona Ryder), and is a fascinatingly complex character who keeps things interesting. The actress fully committed to the role, making the strange and unsettling world feel authentic.

‘Schitt’s Creek’ (2015-2020)

CBC Television

Catherine O’Hara had a long acting career, but she’s become incredibly well-known for her hilarious role as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek. It was wonderful for fans to see her reunite with Eugene Levy, a former co-star from SCTV and several Christopher Guest films. O’Hara perfectly played Moira as a self-absorbed, but formerly rich, wife and mother.

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Every character on Schitt’s Creek is hilarious, but Moira Rose stands out due to her wonderfully eccentric personality. She’s perpetually over-the-top and rarely composed. Catherine O’Hara brings a surprising warmth to the role, making Moira instantly relatable, and she plays her with the same dramatic energy she likely brought to her soap opera character on Sunrise Bay. O’Hara delivers her lines flawlessly, and one of the most memorable is when she declares, “A heavy salad might as well be a casserole.” It’s a perfectly reasonable point, really.

‘Home Alone’ (1994)

20th Century Studios

When people think of Catherine O’Hara, many immediately picture her memorable role as Kate McCallister in Home Alone. She’s best known for the iconic scene where she discovers her son, Kevin, has been accidentally left behind and frantically shouts his name on the airplane.

While Home Alone is beloved for many reasons, Catherine O’Hara’s performance as Kate McCallister is what truly makes the movie special. It would have been easy for her character to be overshadowed by the bumbling villains, but O’Hara brought charm to every scene. Kate isn’t perfect – she’s often distracted and does make the huge mistake of leaving Kevin behind on vacation. However, O’Hara portrays Kate’s emotional journey so well that we connect with her and feel her panic and relief. (And even though she repeats a similar situation in Home Alone 2, we still root for her.)

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2026-01-31 02:53