The vacuum Catherine O’Hara‘s death left in the hearts of her loved ones remains undeniable.
The actress’s co-star on “Schitt’s Creek,” Dan Levy, is speaking up on how it has been, navigating life with the knowledge that she is long gone, for two months now.
Catherine O’Hara passed away on January 30, 2026, with her death certificate from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office stating that she died from pulmonary embolism and rectal cancer.
Catherine O’Hara’s Co-star Described Her Death As ‘A Collective Loss’
Levy, during his appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show” on Tuesday, March 31, declared that the death of the actress shook everyone. “Listen, it’s like a collective loss, I think. She was the greatest. She’s irreplaceable,” the actor declared.
The host, Fallon, then praised her versatility as one of the funniest comedians around, who can play several characters while staying absolutely beautiful. Levy added that the late actress was also a talented improviser, and it was comforting to him to know how loved she was.
The actor continued that everyone in their tributes and reaction to her death acted as if they knew her, and that made it hurt a little less. As noted by The Daily Mail, O’Hara appeared on Schitt’s Creek as Levy’s character, David Rose’s mother, while Levy’s actual father, Eugene Levy, played the actress’s husband, Johnny Rose.
The Actress’s Kindness Was Praised By Her Colleagues
Levy’s father, Eugene, did not mince words in his reaction to O’Hara’s death, testifying to their amazing working relationship and friendship that spanned five decades.
Eugene noted that the actress will be sorely missed by him and sent heartfelt condolences to her husband, their kids, and the rest of her family. Eugene shared that their journey as friends and work pals began on the “Second City” stage to SCTV to the movie they did with Chris Guest, and then spending six fulfilling years together on “Schitt’s Creek.”
Another Hollywood personality, Emily Hampshire, who shared a close relationship with the late actress, testified that when she wanted to move from Canada to the USA, O’Hara helped to facilitate how she got her green card. Hampshire recalled the actress being very kind to her during their time together on “Schitt’s Creek,” where she played Steve Budd from 2015 until 2020.
Catherine O’Hara’s ‘Home Alone’ Co-star Wished They Had More Time Together
The late comedian also received a very touching tribute from Macaulay Culkin, who played her son in the smashing 90s movie, which is still a festive season favorite among fans. As shared by The Blast, Culkin mourned the loss of the actress who was present for his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, declaring that he thought they had more time together and all he wanted to do was have a conversation.
According to the post, which featured two striking pictures of them in the 1990 film and another one decades apart at the ceremony, Culkin bade her a final goodbye, declaring his love for the actress, and promising to see her later on the other side.
O’Hara had praised the actor’s performance on the flick during the ceremony in 2023, noting that he worked really hard and made acting seem like the most natural thing in the world. In her words: “The reason families all over the world can’t let a year go by without watching and loving ‘Home Alone’ together is because of Macaulay Culkin.”
The 71-Year-Old Became The First Woman To Clinch A Posthumous SAG Award
Despite her passing, the actress did not fail to embody her iconic status when she won the posthumous individual SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series. The Blast shared that the award was received on her behalf by her “The Studio” co-star, Seth Rogen, who had the audience in tears with his emotional speech.
The actor affirmed that it would have brought O’Hara great joy to know that her peers recognized her for never needing to tone down her incredible talent as an actress. He raved about her ability to combine brilliance with kindness, with the full understanding that one does not have to come at the expense of the other in any way.
Rogen urged the audience to cherish her mind-blowing legacy and always make time to revisit her outstanding catalog to keep her memory alive. The actor described the chance to work with O’Hara as a true honor, whose maturity influenced him to become a better version of himself on the show, and he is worthy of her presence.
Catherine O’Hara Wanted To Die Surrounded By Her Grandkids
The prolific actress reportedly suffered from a rare heart condition before her death, although it was not confirmed to have played any role in her passing. However, the immediate cause of her death was identified as a blood clot in her lungs, combined with rectal cancer, which she had been battling silently.
The actress was eventually cremated after her death, and her remains were handed over to her husband. O’Hara’s passing was a complete detour from how she wished to have spent her final moment, surrounded by her grandchildren, assuring them it was okay to let go with smiles on their faces.
O’Hara did not have any grandkids till she died, but the tributes and goodwill messages that trailed her passing were enough proof that she lived an impactful life and was very loved. She welcomed two sons with her production designer husband, Bo Welch, Matthew and Luke, in 1994 and 1997, respectively.
RIP Catherine O’Hara!