Several years before his death, Dan Levy told Page Six in an interview that working with family friend Catherine O’Hara was a “dream come true.”
The “Schitt’s Creek” actor exclusively said in March 2018, midway through Season 4 of the hit comedy, that he wrote the character of Rose family matriarch Moira Rose specifically with O’Hara in mind.
“We wrote the character with the intention of Katherine playing the part,” he said at the time, noting that they “kept fingers crossed and toes crossed” before she officially signed on.
Dunn, who played Moira’s son David Rose, said he sat down “over breakfast” when he found out she was getting the role.
“She was very helpful in terms of how I wanted the character to look and adjusted the accent,” he said, referring to Moira’s unique accent and quirky fashion sense.
“Catherine has really shaped the character herself,” he explained. “All we really did was serve what she had in place for us. That’s the beauty of Catherine O’Hara.”
Dunn, 41, also spoke passionately about his “incredible insight” and comedic “urge.”
“Once she laid out the blueprint of what this character was like, the challenge for us was just to live up to what she had created,” he said. “Writing for Moira is one of the most hysterically rewarding experiences you can have in a writers’ room.”
Dan’s father, Eugene Levy, was a writing and producing partner on the show, a role that ultimately earned O’Hara a 2021 Golden Globe Award. In a 2019 interview with Vulture magazine, she revealed that she almost turned down the role because she felt “anxious.”
Dunn also said the Home Alone star, who died suddenly on Friday, had been a “very distant part” of his life since he was “born.”
“My father worked with Kathryn, who I don’t even know about, since the ’70s when she was in Second City in Toronto,” he said, referring to Canada’s iconic improvisational and sketch comedy group and O’Hara and Eugene’s long-standing friendship and working relationship.
“I’ve grown up around incredibly funny people, and that’s been both a blessing and a curse, because now I’ve been completely spoiled in terms of what I find funny, and I think that’s a good thing.”
He added at the time, “Now I get to see her every day and she gets to play my mother. For most people, it’s kind of a dream come true.”
Following the beloved actress’ death, Dunn posted an emotional eulogy for the “Beetlejuice” star on Instagram on Friday.
“What a gift it has been to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for so many years,” he wrote.
“Catherine, who has worked with my father for over 50 years, was a big family member even before she played my family. It’s hard to imagine a world without her.”
He continued, “I will cherish all the funny memories I was lucky enough to make with her.”
Dan also sent his condolences to O’Hara’s husband of 33 years, Bo Welch, and their sons, Matthew and Luke.
O’Hara passed away on Friday at the age of 71, her agency CAA confirmed to Page Six after TMZ first reported the death. “Prolific award-winning actress, author, and comedian Catherine O’Hara passed away today at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness,” they said in a statement.
The Los Angeles Fire Department exclusively told Page Six that they responded to the call at 4:48 a.m. at the “Best in Show” actress’ Brentwood, Los Angeles, home and transported her to a local hospital in “serious” condition.
Audio of the 911 call obtained by Page Six on Friday showed O’Hara was having “difficulty breathing” before she died.
The cause of death remains unknown, but the actress suffered from a rare disease called inverse dextrocardia. This is a rare birth defect in which the thoracic and abdominal organs are positioned as mirror images of typical anatomy.
The Emmy Award-winning actress leaves behind a husband, two adult sons, and an unforgettable career.
