Canadian comedian Catherine O'Hara left behind an indelible mark on the entertainment industry with her trailblazing career spanning decades. As a beloved figure in Chicago's vibrant comedy scene, O'Hara inspired generations of performers to push boundaries and strive for excellence.
One such performer, Holly Wortell, credits O'Hara as a pivotal influence on her own journey into comedy. "She was an influence on so many comedians from my era," Wortell said, reflecting on the impact of O'Hara's groundbreaking work. For Wortell, seeing O'Hara on stage and screen sparked a passion for comedy that has endured a lifetime.
O'Hara's impact extends far beyond her iconic roles in films like "Home Alone" and its sequels, as well as her critically acclaimed work in indie mockumentaries such as "Waiting for Guffman" and "Best in Show." Her legacy can be seen in the countless comedians who have followed in her footsteps, including Wortell.
Susan Messing, a former Second City performer, shares a similar origin story with Wortell, crediting O'Hara's work as a catalyst for her own entry into comedy. Messing believes that O'Hara's influence is essential for women in the industry, stating, "If you are somebody who ends up in comedy as a woman and you don’t know about Catherine O’Hara, something’s probably missing in your education."
Second City's Kelly Leonard agrees, emphasizing O'Hara's significance as a role model for female comedians. "That board room, by the way," Leonard recalls, "had Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Keegan-Michael Key, Catherine, Jane Lynch and Jason Sudeikis." She notes that O'Hara's kind and generous nature made her an invaluable presence on the Second City Artistic Advisory Board.
Catherine O'Hara's enduring impact on comedy is evident in the words of David Cerda, a Chicago performer who credits O'Hara with opening his mind to the possibilities of comedy. "That show made me see comedy was more than just standing on stage and telling jokes," Cerda says, reflecting on the influence of "SCTV." For Cerda, losing O'Hara felt like the loss of a beloved mentor, but her legacy continues to inspire performers around the world.
As news of O'Hara's passing spreads, fans and fellow comedians alike are taking to social media to share their love and admiration for this comedic legend. Her impact on generations of performers will be remembered for years to come, cementing her place as one of the most beloved and respected figures in comedy history.
One such performer, Holly Wortell, credits O'Hara as a pivotal influence on her own journey into comedy. "She was an influence on so many comedians from my era," Wortell said, reflecting on the impact of O'Hara's groundbreaking work. For Wortell, seeing O'Hara on stage and screen sparked a passion for comedy that has endured a lifetime.
O'Hara's impact extends far beyond her iconic roles in films like "Home Alone" and its sequels, as well as her critically acclaimed work in indie mockumentaries such as "Waiting for Guffman" and "Best in Show." Her legacy can be seen in the countless comedians who have followed in her footsteps, including Wortell.
Susan Messing, a former Second City performer, shares a similar origin story with Wortell, crediting O'Hara's work as a catalyst for her own entry into comedy. Messing believes that O'Hara's influence is essential for women in the industry, stating, "If you are somebody who ends up in comedy as a woman and you don’t know about Catherine O’Hara, something’s probably missing in your education."
Second City's Kelly Leonard agrees, emphasizing O'Hara's significance as a role model for female comedians. "That board room, by the way," Leonard recalls, "had Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Keegan-Michael Key, Catherine, Jane Lynch and Jason Sudeikis." She notes that O'Hara's kind and generous nature made her an invaluable presence on the Second City Artistic Advisory Board.
Catherine O'Hara's enduring impact on comedy is evident in the words of David Cerda, a Chicago performer who credits O'Hara with opening his mind to the possibilities of comedy. "That show made me see comedy was more than just standing on stage and telling jokes," Cerda says, reflecting on the influence of "SCTV." For Cerda, losing O'Hara felt like the loss of a beloved mentor, but her legacy continues to inspire performers around the world.
As news of O'Hara's passing spreads, fans and fellow comedians alike are taking to social media to share their love and admiration for this comedic legend. Her impact on generations of performers will be remembered for years to come, cementing her place as one of the most beloved and respected figures in comedy history.
Losing a trailblazer like Catherine O'Hara is never easy... I mean, can you imagine a world without "Home Alone" or "Waiting for Guffman"? It's crazy to think that someone who has been in our collective consciousness for so long is now gone 
. The fact that she inspired an entire generation of comedians and performers to push boundaries and strive for excellence is truly humbling 
. I'm going to miss seeing her iconic performances on stage and screen, but it's comforting to know that her legacy will live on through the countless comedians who followed in her footsteps 
. She may be gone, but Catherine O'Hara's impact on comedy history will never fade away 
.
my heart goes out to all the comedians she inspired over the years, you know, from watching her on sctv to seeing her on home alone... women like susan messing & holly wortell who are carrying on her legacy, it's such a bummer that we'll miss her but i'm so grateful for the impact she had on comedy 
i'm still trying to process the news about Catherine O'Hara's passing... she was literally a giant in the comedy world 
. i mean, can you even imagine a Chicago without her? 
the impact she had on so many comedians is just mind-blowing 
that's just beautiful. i'm not gonna lie, losing someone who inspires you is tough 
, but at least we can take comfort in knowing her legacy will live on forever 
.
and I love how she's inspiring new gen of comedians like Holly Wortell 
can't wait to see what they do next 
she was literally a goddess on screen i remember watching home alone for the 100th time & still getting chills every time she says "eat my shorts" 
but its not just her movies that made us laugh its her entire career as a comedian that inspired so many ppl to chase their dreams & make comedy their own 
it's crazy how one person can have such a huge impact on so many people's lives & careers
. Anyway, it's been 30 years since SCTV ended and we still haven't forgotten the genius that is Catherine O'Hara 
. Her influence on comedy is undeniable, but let's be real, most of us are just gonna keep quoting her iconic roles in Home Alone for the rest of our lives 
... like, "I'm the king of the world!" 
and it's no wonder so many comedians, including my fave Holly Wortell 
She paved the way for women in comedy & that's something we should all be grateful for 
#RIP CatherineOHara #ComedyLegend #WomenInComedy
. I heard Second City had a super awkward meeting w/ her though lol 
she was literally a pioneer in the industry 
i mean we're still seeing women like susan messing kill it in comedy because of cat o'hara's trailblazing work 
it's crazy to think that her legacy is inspiring new generations of comedians, including holly wortell and kelly leonard 
but i'm so grateful for all the laughter and memories she brought into our lives 
. I'm gonna miss watching her on screen but at least we get to remember her legacy through all the comedians she inspired 
. She may be gone, but her legacy is still making waves in the comedy world and inspiring new generations of comedians 
but seriously Catherine O'Hara left an INSANE mark on comedy. I love how her legacy keeps inspiring new gens of performers 
! And can we talk about Kelly Leonard's story? Girl, that Second City boardroom was like a who's who of comedy legends 
it's crazy how she influenced so many comedians, including some amazing women like Holly Wortell and Susan Messing 
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed but O’Hara was always so underrated