Deadline has reported that SNL paid tribute to Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek, The Studio) this past Saturday. O’Hara was a two-time former host and a brief cast member of the sketch comedy program. O’Hara passed away on Friday at the age of 71 years old. O’Hara’s recent work included two of the most acclaimed comedy series of the past decade, Schitt’s Creek and The Studio. SNL showed a card in memoriam for the actress just before Cardi B’s musical performance.
According to Deadline, O’Hara spoke about her extremely short tenure at SNL in 2024. Before her time at SNL, she worked at a Canadian sketch comedy series called SCTV. Before O’Hara even filmed an episode of SNL, she left the program to return to Canada to rejoin SCTV.
Deadline has reported that although O’Hara exited SNL abruptly, they seemed to have left on good terms, as she hosted the program twice. She hosted two consecutive years in the 90s. In 1991, she hosted with musical guest R.E.M., and in 1992 with musical guest the 10,000 Maniacs.
According to mxdwn, O’Hara was a much-loved figure in Hollywood, garnering a myriad of tributes. Pedro Pascal (Game Of Thrones, The Materialists), her costar on The Last Of Us, said, “Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always.”
A representative for Seth Rogan (The Studio, Platonic), one of O’Hara’s co-stars on The Studio, shared some words of remembrance, which read, “We are at a loss for words at the passing of our friend Catherine O’Hara. She was a hero to all of us, and we pinched ourselves every day that we got to work with her on The Studio. She was somehow classy, warm, and hilarious all at once. We’re unbelievably saddened she is gone and send our deepest sympathy to Bo and all her family,” via ABC News.