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Annie Murphy has broken her silence after her former Schitt’s Creek TV mother, Catherine O’Hara, died at the age of 71.
“Ha-ha-HAAAA?!?! Her laugh was a perpetual ‘Yes, And’ challenged anyone who heard it to join in, and be as delighted as she was,” Murphy, 39, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, January 31. “Gosh, were we ever lucky to have her.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Friday, January 30, that O’Hara died after a brief illness.
“Prolific multi-award-winning actress, writer and comedian Catherine O’Hara died today at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness,” O’Hara’s agency, Creative Artists Agency, said in a statement. “A private celebration of life will be held by the family.”
O’Hara starred as matriarch Moira Rose on Canada’s Schitt’s Creek from 2015 to 2020, for which she won an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe trophy and multiple Actor Awards. Schitt’s Creek also featured Eugene Levy as Moira’s husband, as well as Dan Levy and Murphy as the two Rose offspring. (Father-son duo Eugene, 79, and Dan, 42, also cocreated Schitt’s Creek.)
“She would have never presumed to call herself a teacher (too self-deprecating, too Canadian) but holy f***, was I ever a student,” Murphy recalled of O’Hara in her social media tribute. “Here a few Coles Notes for those who also want to study: Giggles always. Jokes first. As looking as they feel right in your bones. When you find the people you love and make you laugh, stick with your lovers and laughters.”
She continued, “Everybody on set is a part of the community who (ideally) wants to make something great — treat them as such. Make suggestions, even if that means overstepping sometimes. Acknowledge if it doesn’t work. Be appreciative to those who appreciate it when it does.”
Daniel Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy and Eugene Levy in ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ CBC / courtesy of Everett Collection
Murphy concluded her solemn tribute with the hashtag, “Goodbye to a Great Actress.”
Many of Murphy and O’Hara’s Schitt’s Creek costars have also paid tribute to the late Home Alone actress’ legacy.
“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 50 years,” Eugene told Us in a statement, honoring his longtime collaborator. “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. I will miss her.”
Eugene’s son, Dan, also issued a statement of his own.
“What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years,” Dan wrote via Instagram. “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.”
O’Hara is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their two sons, in addition to the late star’s siblings.
