Tim Burton Reflects On Decades-Long Creative Bond With Catherine O'Hara

Following the death of Catherine O’Hara at age 71, filmmaker Tim Burton shared a deeply personal tribute, honoring not only her legacy but the creative partnership the two shared across multiple iconic films. News of O’Hara’s death was confirmed on Friday after battling a brief illness. Additional details released by the Los Angeles Fire Department indicated emergency responders were dispatched to Catherine O’Hara's home in the early morning hours before she was transported to a hospital in serious condition.

Burton took to Instagram to remember O’Hara, posting a rare photo of the "Beetlejuice" cast together and writing, “Catherine, I love you. This picture shows how much light you gave to all of us. You were a special part of my life and afterlife.” The message immediately resonated, reflecting a bond that stretched far beyond a single project and into some of Burton’s most beloved work.

The two first teamed up on "Beetlejuice," where O’Hara absolutely stole scenes as Delia Deetz, the wildly eccentric, art-obsessed stepmother who became one of the film’s most unforgettable characters. Her wild energy and comedic timing fit perfectly into Burton’s dark, bizarre world, helping define the movie’s lasting cult status.

Their collaboration didn’t end there.

O’Hara went on to voice Sally in "The Nightmare Before Christmas," a role that introduced her to an entirely new generation of fans. Her soft, emotional vocal performance gave the stop-motion classic much of its soul, turning Sally into one of the most beloved characters in Burton’s universe.

Nearly two decades later, Burton again tapped O’Hara for "Frankenweenie," where she voiced multiple characters, including Susan Frankenstein, Victor’s mother, as well as the “Weird Girl” and the Gym Teacher.

More emotional tributes have also come from Justin Theroux and Michael Keaton, who shared personal reflections on Catherine O’Hara’s impact, on screen and off.

Theroux, who starred alongside O’Hara in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," posted a quiet but powerful tribute on Instagram, sharing a photo of O’Hara’s empty director’s chair on set. “Oh Catherine,” he wrote, adding a white dove emoji. “You will be so so missed.”

Keaton’s tribute went even deeper, reflecting on decades of shared history and friendship that stretched well beyond "Beetlejuice." The actor first worked with O’Hara on the 1988 classic, before reuniting with her in "The Paper" and later "Game 6." But it was their off-screen bond that weighed heaviest.

“We go back before the first Beetlejuice,” Keaton wrote. “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.”

Tributes have also poured in from O’Hara’s "The Studio" co-stars and the companies behind the series, underscoring just how deeply she impacted everyone she worked with. Seth Rogen shared a lengthy and heartfelt message on Instagram, calling O’Hara a defining influence on his own career.

“Really don’t know what to say,” Rogen wrote. “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 honor.”

Meanwhile, Apple TV and Lionsgate Television released a joint statement expressing their heartbreak over O’Hara’s death.

“An undeniable legend, icon, and incomparable talent, Catherine elevated every project she was a part of, including the singular genius she brought to her role on The Studio,” the statement read in part. “Her artistic accomplishments will forever bring humor, light and love for generations to come, and her brilliance and generosity of spirit touched everyone around her.”

As The Blast reported, Catherine O’Hara died on January 30 following a brief battle with an undisclosed illness. She was 71. O’Hara had previously lived with situs inversus, a rare congenital condition in which the internal organs are arranged as a mirror image of typical anatomy, according to the National Institutes of Health.

In the hours leading up to her death, O’Hara was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital in “serious condition.” The actress passed away later that day, leaving behind a legacy that spans decades of film, television, and comedy.