Legends in Teacups

In 2000, I boarded a plane for the first time, heading to Los Angeles to meet my friend Amanda and begin our trek following Steely Dan’s Two Against Nature tour. I was a California novice, so she convinced me that Disneyland was a mandatory stop. We eventually made it to the front of the line for the Mad Tea Party, and as we were ushered into our teacup, the next four people in line piled in with us. I sat down, reached for the center dial to spin, and looked up straight into the face of Catherine O’Hara.

I was completely starstruck. Thanks to my dad, SCTV was a cornerstone of my comedic education, and suddenly one of the show's giants was my fellow captive in a spinning teacup. I didn't want to make it weird, so I just said hello and told her, "I absolutely love your work on SCTV." She beamed, leaned in, and said, "Thank you so much! Most people your age only know me as that horrible mother in Home Alone!"

She was one of those rare performers who made every frame she was in a little brighter. Whether she was stealing the show as the incomparable Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek or disappearing into roles in Beetlejuice, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind, Waiting for Guffman, and so many more great movies and shows, her talent was a force of nature. Even in her recent work on The Studio, she remained at the top of her game. She was just as warm and sharp on screen as she was in a spinning teacup—a great talent, a genuine force, and a true star.

Rest in peace, Catherine.