Catherine O’Hara played Moira Rose, a former soap opera star, in Schitt’s Creek for six seasons.
The role landed O’Hara an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020 as the Canadian comedy swept the awards.
Moira Rose was an eccentric and glamorous character who believed she was a star, even when her and her family, played by her longtime colleague Eugene Levy, Dan Levy and Annie Murphy, was forced to move into a motel in a remote town after losing their fortune.
The show was created by Dan and Eugene Levy.
Dan Levy 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. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and every member of her big, beautiful family.”
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Eugene Levy was close friends with Hara and worked with her in a variety of roles over the years. The pair started out in Toronto-based improv troupe The Second City, before joining the cast of sketch series SCTV in 1976 and then working on Christopher Guest films including Best In Show and A Mighty Wind.
“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,” said Eugene Levy.