{"id":2598,"date":"2024-12-11T15:51:20","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T20:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/?p=2598"},"modified":"2024-12-11T15:51:38","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T20:51:38","slug":"catherine-anne-ohara-a-multitalented-toronto-icon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2598-catherine-anne-ohara-a-multitalented-toronto-icon","title":{"rendered":"Catherine Anne O\u2019Hara: A Multitalented Toronto Icon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Actress, writer, singer, and one of Canada\u2019s most celebrated <a href=\"https:\/\/torontoski.info\/uk\/eternal-1312-torontskyj-komik-miljoner-rassell-piters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">comedians<\/a>\u2014Catherine Anne O\u2019Hara has captivated audiences worldwide. Best known for her roles on SCTV (1976\u201379, 1981\u201383) and Schitt\u2019s Creek (2015\u201320), as well as in films like Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), she has earned numerous accolades, including Emmy, Golden Globe, Gemini, Genie, and Canadian Screen Awards. An Officer of the Order of Canada and an inductee of Canada&#8217;s Walk of Fame, O\u2019Hara received the Governor General\u2019s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2021. Read more about her remarkable journey on <a href=\"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/\">toronto-trend<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.toronto-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2024\/12\/ad_4nxcup34v9vlx4as4ob8wtwqbd2k7wy28mels1rr_ahakagclzccptpirsietezdh8zogsyi04hwkerv5whjrbnsegzrbeovexzz8o38son2gum8ee4fgup6xpsydwcrfghj6q0754qkeyapwbzd2ojgc2ybi-cxf9t62n.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a05eb1a04c43\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a05eb1a04c43\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2598-catherine-anne-ohara-a-multitalented-toronto-icon\/#Early_Life_and_Career\" >Early Life and Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2598-catherine-anne-ohara-a-multitalented-toronto-icon\/#Film_Career\" >Film Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2598-catherine-anne-ohara-a-multitalented-toronto-icon\/#Television_Career\" >Television Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2598-catherine-anne-ohara-a-multitalented-toronto-icon\/#Music_Career\" >Music Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/eternal-2598-catherine-anne-ohara-a-multitalented-toronto-icon\/#Personal_Life\" >Personal Life<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Early_Life_and_Career\"><\/span>Early Life and Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Catherine Anne O\u2019Hara was born on March 4, 1954, in Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto, as one of seven children. Her younger sister, Mary Margaret O\u2019Hara, is a renowned singer-songwriter. Catherine attended Burnhamthorpe Collegiate High School, where she was classmates with future comedian Robin Duke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After high school, O\u2019Hara worked as a waitress at Toronto\u2019s Second City Theatre. She became an understudy for Gilda Radner and joined the main cast when Radner left in 1974. By 1975, O\u2019Hara was appearing in guest roles on CBC shows like Coming Up Rosie and The Wayne and Shuster Show. She became part of the inaugural cast of SCTV in 1976, where she quickly earned acclaim for her comedic versatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Hara\u2019s iconic SCTV characters include lounge singer Lola Heatherton, sultry Lolee Falana, and clueless comedian Dusty Towne. Her impersonations of celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Taylor, and Katharine Hepburn also became fan favourites. Known for her physical comedy and emotional depth, O\u2019Hara demonstrated her ability to bring dramatic nuance to comedic roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.toronto-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2024\/12\/ad_4nxfvv1hsk83h8wkesxc4hg0lt05yanfzd_1r_hhxq37t6dlgkwhnlxj6cpmp3nn18khdsgtdrys1iu05eor5qe8hi9rpo8scibhlbfw2yddyqdcfuch2btvzazcueuhksavib0zsuwkeyapwbzd2ojgc2ybi-cxf9t62n.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Hara briefly left SCTV in 1980 to join Saturday Night Live, but departed after one week. She returned to SCTV for a season in 1981.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Film_Career\"><\/span>Film Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While still working on SCTV, O\u2019Hara began appearing in films such as Rock &amp; Rule (1983), After Hours (1985), and Heartburn (1986), starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. She gained widespread recognition as Delia Deetz in Tim Burton\u2019s Beetlejuice (1988).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.toronto-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2024\/12\/ad_4nxdd1dshvnivuxknnwexy1hmwpmybfz1wvtzca8fu7va2d3wr7yjwfkduduygovf4wy3udklhxfg5oj7tx-xuya01tmog-mfd6ruozwwxy8a9kqnu-ro8ajkn4wll9s2jai0lqfjawkeyapwbzd2ojgc2ybi-cxf9t62n.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Catherine O\u2019Hara reached one of her greatest milestones by playing the mother of Kevin McCallister (portrayed by Macaulay Culkin) in Christopher Columbus\u2019s blockbuster Home Alone (1990). The film grossed nearly $500 million worldwide, particularly resonating with audiences during the holiday season. Its massive success inspired the creation of a sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), in which O\u2019Hara reprised her role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Hara\u2019s work as part of Christopher Guest\u2019s acting and directing ensemble, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), exemplifies her versatility as both a brilliant comedian and an exceptional performer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fans often speculate about her relationship with fellow SCTV and Schitt\u2019s Creek star Eugene Levy. It\u2019s easy to see why. O\u2019Hara and Levy play an eccentric suburban couple devoted to their terriers in Best in Show and former folk singers\/lovers Mitch and Mickey in A Mighty Wind. Their heartfelt performance in the latter led them to perform the Oscar-nominated song \u201cA Kiss at the End of the Rainbow\u201d during the 2004 Academy Awards ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the satirical awards-season comedy For Your Consideration, O\u2019Hara delivered one of her finest performances as Marilyn Hack, an actress yearning for an Academy Award nomination while industry buzz portrays her as merely a contender. O\u2019Hara modeled Hack\u2019s sharp voice and lifted eyebrows on CBC broadcasters, and critics unanimously praised her nuanced performance, describing it as worthy of an award itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Catherine O\u2019Hara\u2019s filmography spans a wide range of genres, including roles in Dick Tracy (1990), Wyatt Earp (1994), and The Life Before This (1999) with Sarah Polley\u2014a performance that earned her a Genie Award. Other notable films include Speaking of Sex (2001), Orange County (2002), Lemony Snicket&#8217;s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) with Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep, Penelope (2006), Good Behavior (2008), Away We Go (2009), Killers (2010), Temple Grandin (2010)\u2014for which she received Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations\u2014and The Right Kind of Wrong (2013).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As with many of her SCTV peers, O\u2019Hara has lent her voice to numerous animated films, including Chicken Little (2005), Over the Hedge (2006), Monster House (2006), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), A Monster in Paris (2011), and When Marnie Was There (2014). Particularly noteworthy are her roles in Tim Burton\u2019s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and Frankenweenie (2012), where her vocal talents helped bring beloved characters to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Television_Career\"><\/span>Television Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Catherine O\u2019Hara, beyond her performances on SCTV, has an extensive television career spanning both comedies and dramas. While her film career primarily flourished in Hollywood, O\u2019Hara has appeared on both American and Canadian television. In 1995, she received the Earl Grey Award for her contributions to Canadian television at the Gemini Awards. Her television work includes the animated series The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley (1988), based on Martin Short&#8217;s popular SCTV character, the miniseries Morton &amp; Hayes (1991) with Christopher Guest, Tales from the Crypt (1994), The Outer Limits (1997), for which she directed an episode in 1998, Twice in a Lifetime (2001), Six Feet Under (2003, 2005), Curb Your Enthusiasm (2009), the animated series Odd Job Jack (2003), Glenn Martin, DDS (2009\u201310), as well as appearances on 30 Rock (2012) and Modern Family (2015).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2015, O\u2019Hara reunited with Eugene Levy for the CBC sitcom Schitt\u2019s Creek, where she portrayed the eccentric soap opera star Moira Rose. The series follows a wealthy couple, played by O\u2019Hara and Levy, who lose their fortune and relocate to the small town of Schitt\u2019s Creek, which they had jokingly purchased years prior. Schitt\u2019s Creek became one of CBC\u2019s most critically acclaimed shows in recent years, averaging over a million viewers in its first season. It also became CBC\u2019s most-watched online comedy. Catherine won five consecutive Canadian Screen Awards for her role in Schitt\u2019s Creek. In 2016, O\u2019Hara and her co-star Eugene Levy were honored with the Legacy Award at the Canadian Screen Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Music_Career\"><\/span>Music Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.toronto-trend.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2024\/12\/ad_4nxefjuodl0jd89p5zytfeb3qfebdpesit97roix1yvkynsfqm5hkpcpq58hbcc4aaa1u_s3rlujwccjon-te1jv5oodnqfpsq8wvrw_w7kkwa_n0xggktvkgkqzlkzvyjr25nuqvdqkeyapwbzd2ojgc2ybi-cxf9t62n.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Hara is also a talented singer and songwriter. She contributed to the Grammy-nominated album A Mighty Wind, wrote songs for The Last Polka (1985), and was part of the charity single Tears Are Not Enough by Northern Lights. She also lent her voice to soundtracks for The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and Best in Show (2000).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Personal_Life\"><\/span>Personal Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Catherine met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of Beetlejuice. They married in 1992 and have two sons, Matthew and Luke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Catherine O\u2019Hara\u2019s unparalleled talent, versatility, and charm have made her a beloved figure in Canadian and global entertainment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Actress, writer, singer, and one of Canada\u2019s most celebrated comedians\u2014Catherine Anne O\u2019Hara has captivated audiences worldwide. Best known for her roles on SCTV (1976\u201379, 1981\u201383) and Schitt\u2019s Creek (2015\u201320), as well as in films like Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), she has earned numerous accolades, including Emmy, Golden [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":417,"featured_media":2121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[154],"tags":[1495,1479,1492,1485,1490,1493,1491,1489,1477,1475,1484,1487,1488,1494,1486,1481],"motype":[160],"moformat":[24],"moimportance":[32,35],"class_list":{"0":"post-2598","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kino","8":"tag-1954-and-grew-up-in-the-toronto-suburb-of-etobicoke","9":"tag-actress","10":"tag-anne-was-born-on-march-4","11":"tag-catherine-ogara","12":"tag-catherine-ogara-biography","13":"tag-catherine-ogara-facts","14":"tag-catherine-ogara-history","15":"tag-catherine-ogara-photos","16":"tag-cinema","17":"tag-creativity","18":"tag-early-years-and-career","19":"tag-film-career","20":"tag-home-alone","21":"tag-singer","22":"tag-well-rounded-toronto-actress-catherine-anne-ogara","23":"tag-writer","24":"motype-eternal","25":"moformat-longrid-korotka","26":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","27":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/417"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2611,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598\/revisions\/2611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2598"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2598"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2598"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toronto-trend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}