Eugene Levy has broken his silence over the death of his Schitt’s Creek costar and collaborator of fifty years, Catherine O’Hara.
The actor, 79, shared a press release with Us Weekly on Friday, January 30, after news of O’Hara’s death at age 71.
“Words seem inadequate to specific the loss I feel today. I had the dignity of knowing and dealing with the nice Catherine O’Hara for over fifty years,” Eugene said. “From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to SCTV, to the flicks 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.”
He concluded, “And I’ll miss her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke, and the complete O’Hara family.”
In addition to playing husband and wife on Schitt’s Creek, Eugene and O’Hara collaborated on many projects over the a long time including the Christopher Guest movies Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006).
The pair first met in 1972 and while appearing on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in 2020, they even admitted they briefly dated for “one or two dates” of their early days working together as castmates on Second City.
Chatting with The Hollywood Reporter in 2015, O’Hara opened about their working relationship, telling the outlet, “I feel numerous it’s a really fortunate circumstance, in a way, that we occur to find yourself teamed together.”
In the identical interview, Eugene said portraying onscreen couples was easy for them because of their natural chemistry.
“We’ve known one another for such an extended time that it’s just a snug relationship,” Eugene explained. “And while you’re doing comedy, primary, you do wish to work with one of the best people. It’s hard while you’re not working with one of the best people, so the underside line is you wish really good people who find themselves quite expert at this particular form of comedy.”
Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)
The actress died on Friday at her home in Los Angeles following a transient illness, her manager confirmed to Us Weekly.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson later confirmed to Us Weekly that paramedics were called to the actress’ Brentwood home at 4:48 a.m. Friday morning for a medical aid call. O’Hara was transported in “serious condition” to the hospital. An official reason for death has yet to be released.
Eugene’s son Dan, 42, and daughter Sarah, 39, who each also worked on the Emmy-winning sitcom Schitt’s Creek, were also amongst those to pay tribute to O’Hara following her death.
“What a present to have gotten to bounce in the nice and cozy glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years,” Dan wrote via Instagram on Friday. “Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was clan before she ever played my family. It’s hard to assume a world without her in it. I’ll cherish every funny memory I used to be fortunate enough to make along with her.”
He added, “My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and each member of her big, beautiful family.”
For her part, Sarah shared a heartfelt tribute on her own Instagram account.
“This one cuts deep. What an honor it has been to know and work with and love Catherine O’Hara,” Sarah wrote within the caption. “Cheers to all that you simply delivered to this world — you can be so, so missed. ❤️”