Cinema Express Desk
An iconic, dramatic and outrageously funny comic who bagged two Emmys, Catherine O'Hara passed away at the age of 71. Peaked in both films and TV shows, she has a diverse filmography. Take a look at some of her best performances.
Home Alone (1990)
Kate McCallister, the crowd’s favourite millennial mom, is Catherine O’Hara’s watershed role. Her desperate attempts to reach home to her son, or her scared shriek while aggressively shaking her head upon finding out that she forgot her son for the second time is comedic gold. She reprised her role in Home Alone 2 (1992).
Streaming on: JioHotstar
Schitt’s Creek (2015)
Playing an opera star, Moira Rose, defined by her dramatic accent & vocabulary, a narcissistic personality and her love for her vast collection of wigs she called ‘bebe’, Catherine O’Hara truly deserved the Emmy Award she received for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Streaming on: Netflix
The Last of Us (2023)
Gail Lynden reminds us how powerful restraint can be. Unlike O'Hara's previous roles that are marked with dramatic flair, she delivers a grounded and deeply human performance that fits the apocalyptic world perfectly. Gail Lynden is a true mark of O'Hara's range — from comedy to a bleak, emotional psychotherapist.
Streaming on: JioHotstar
The Studio (2025)
A chaotic, frantic and wildly influential creative producer who loses her job over betrayal and then quickly negotiates a deal for herself. Patty Leigh is a ruthless businesswoman but played by a formidable Catherine O’Hara who's charming and to be honest, just professional.
Streaming on: Apple TV
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (1998)
As Delia Deetz, she perfectly combines gothic artistry, eccentric talent, absurd humour and neurotic energy, making every remark and gesture humorously ridiculous. She gives an over-the-top edge in Beetlejuice, and a humorous maturity to its sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, making Delia iconic and ludicrous.
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
Nightmare before Christmas (1993)
O'Hara voiced Sally, the stitched-together lover of Jack. As the only person in their world with an eye for beauty, O'Hara gave Sally, an animated doll, a deep, gentle and lonely vulnerability.
Streaming on: JioHotstar
Best in Show (2000)
Catherine O’Hara's work as an improv artist is effortlessly hilarious. She plays 'Cookie', a chaotic and delusional wife in her long-time collaborator Christopher Guest’s improv directorial ‘Best in Show’. Her dramatic monologues about her romantic past and intense love for her dog makes the documentary an unforgettable one.
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video