Dan Levy once described working with Catherine O’Hara on “Schitt’s Creek” as a “dream come true” in a 2018 interview with Page Six. He revealed that his father, Eugene Levy, had crafted the role of eccentric matriarch Moira Rose specifically for O’Hara, hoping she would accept it. When she agreed, the Levys collaborated with her during a meeting over breakfast, where O’Hara proposed Moira’s unique accent and flamboyant style. Dan credited her as the driving force behind the character’s development, praising her “incredible insight” and comedic brilliance. Writing for Moira, he noted, became a thrilling creative challenge for the show’s team.
Having known O’Hara since childhood through her decades-long collaboration with his father—dating back to their improv days at Toronto’s Second City in the 1970s—Dan considered her extended family. He reflected on the surreal joy of her playing his onscreen mother, calling it a rare privilege.
Following O’Hara’s sudden passing at age 71, Dan shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, mourning the loss of her “brilliance” and reminiscing about their shared moments on set. He extended condolences to her husband, production designer Bo Welch, and their two sons.
O’Hara died after paramedics responded to a 911 call at her Los Angeles home, where she was experiencing breathing difficulties. She was transported to a hospital in serious condition before her passing. Her agent confirmed the death, citing a brief illness. The actress, who had dextrocardia with situs inversus—a rare condition causing reversed organ placement—leaves behind a storied career, including a Golden Globe win for “Schitt’s Creek” and iconic roles in films like “Home Alone” and “Beetlejuice.”