Catherine O’Hara was far more than just a performer; she was a cultural touchstone. Born in Toronto as the sixth of seven children, she cut her teeth in the legendary Second City improvisational comedy troupe, where her sharp wit and transformative character work quickly set her apart.
To older generations, she will always be Kate McCallister, the frantic yet fierce matriarch of the “Home Alone” franchise. Her portrayal of a mother desperately trying to reunite with her son, Kevin, became a staple of holiday cinema, immortalizing her in the hearts of millions. To a newer wave of viewers, she was the inimitable Moira Rose on “Schitt’s Creek.” Over the course of six seasons and 80 episodes, O’Hara breathed life into Moira’s eccentricities, from her “bebe” pronunciations to her collection of elaborate wigs, earning herself an Emmy Award and cementing the show’s place as a modern masterpiece.
