Catherine O’Hara said in an interview two years before her death that she felt lucky to be alive and continue her iconic career.
“I’m lucky to be able to continue doing this at this age. It’s unbelievable,” she told Elle Canada in August 2024.
“Over the last few years, I’ve really tried to practice turning things around and being grateful when I start feeling scared or nervous or complaining about something. Like, ‘How lucky am I to be alive right now? And to have this opportunity at this moment.'”
O’Hara admitted she was “nervous” about doing the cover shoot for the glossy magazine, saying: “How crazy would it be to be wearing these clothes and lying on this pool at my age?”
The “Schitt’s Creek” actress, who died suddenly on Friday at the age of 71, also spoke about feeling like a “freak” for aging naturally in an industry known for its emphasis on youthful looks.
“I think about my age, but other than that I hardly ever look in the mirror,” she confessed.
“Nowadays, I feel that the stories of people my age often revolve around death, divorce, and illness. So I’m really lucky to have people around me who respect the elderly and give me new experiences. I’d like to think that the kind of roles I’m playing now are the roles people play in their lives.”
She added, “I play a studio head who becomes an independent producer (in ‘The Studio’). How beautiful is it that someone my age is doing this? That’s the way it should be.”
TMZ first reported the news of O’Hara’s death. CAA confirmed the news in a statement to Page Six on Friday.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of Catherine O’Hara,” the statement read.
The Los Angeles Fire Department exclusively told Page Six that they responded to the call at O’Hara’s home at 4:48 a.m. local time. She was then taken to hospital in a “serious” condition.
The cause of death has not yet been announced.
The Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress has appeared in some classic films over the years, including 1988’s Beetlejuice, 1990’s Home Alone, and a series of Christopher Guest mockumentaries such as Waiting for Guffman (1996) and Best in Show (2000).
Ms O’Hara leaves behind her husband, Bob Welch, to whom she was married for 33 years, and two sons, Matthew (31) and Luke (29).
