Tributes have come in for the beloved Canadian actress Catherine O’Hara, who died this week at the age of 71 in Los Angeles. Reports say she passed away after a brief illness.
Born in Toronto, O’Hara began her acting career in the 1970s at The Second City, an improvisational theatre. She also appeared on the famous Canadian comedy show SCTV. O’Hara’s film career took off in 1980 with Double Negative, where she acted with Eugene Levy and John Candy. However, she became a household name when she played Macaulay Culkin’s mother in the 1990 movie Home Alone.
More recently, younger audiences loved her role as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, where she starred alongside Levy and his son, Dan. This role earned her an Emmy award for best actress in a comedy series in 2020.
Many people are remembering O’Hara fondly. Macaulay Culkin expressed his sadness on Instagram, saying he wanted more time with her. Eugene Levy, her long-time collaborator, said words were not enough to show his loss. He referred to her as a great friend. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada has lost a legend. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called her a beloved icon, and Seth Rogen praised her kindness and talent, saying she inspired him.
Vocabulary List:
- Tributes /ˈtrɪb.juːts/ (noun): Expressions of respect and admiration for someone often in the form of public acknowledgment.
- Beloved /bɪˈlʌv.ɪd/ (adjective): Dearly loved; cherished.
- Legacy /ˈlɛɡəsi/ (noun): Something handed down by a predecessor often a significant contribution or impact.
- Acknowledge /əkˈnɒl.ɪdʒ/ (verb): To accept or admit the existence or truth of something.
- Collaborator /kəˈlæb.ə.reɪ.tər/ (noun): A person who works jointly on an activity or project especially in an artistic context.
- Icon /ˈaɪ.kɒn/ (noun): A person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration.
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