Catherine O'Hara 'changed how so many of us understand comedy and humanity'

"But it wasn't boldness alone that made her one of the greats, and her characters memorable: No matter how absurd or how preposterous or even cliche on the page, there was always a beating heart underneath the silliness, a compassion that shone through. Yes, even as Cookie Fleck, with all her ex-boyfriends, in "Best in Show.""

"Because of that innate grasp on her craft, unwillingness to settle into nostalgia and uncanny ability to invent herself anew with each project, her characters would impact multiple generations of film, television and comedy fans. Before she died at age 71, she was still forging new trails as the ousted studio executive Patty Leigh in "The Studio." And she did it all with grace and humility, a diva only when the role and costume demanded it."

"She changed how so many of us understand comedy and humanity."

Catherine O'Hara delivered bold, inventive performances across film and television, creating memorable characters like Moira Rose, Delia Deetz, Kate McCallister, and Cookie Fleck. Her portrayals balanced absurdity with genuine compassion, making even exaggerated roles feel grounded and human. Colleagues credited her with reshaping understandings of comedy and humanity. She avoided resting on nostalgia, continually reinventing herself and engaging new audiences. She remained active into her later years, portraying Patty Leigh in "The Studio" before her death at age 71. She emerged from a large Catholic family and found improv through connections to Gilda Radner.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles