Eugene Levy he has broken his silence before the death of his Schitt’s Creek costar and collaborator of 50 years, Catherine O’Hara.
The 79-year-old actor shared a statement with Us Weekly on Friday, January 30, after news of O’Hara’s death at the age of 71.
“Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today. I had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O’Hara for over fifty years,” said Eugene. “From our beginnings in Second city stage, on SCTV, in the films we did with Guest Christo our six glorious years later Shit RieraI loved our working relationship, but most of all our friendship.”
He concluded: “And I will miss her. My heart goes out to her Good, Matthew, Lukeand the entire O’Hara family.”
Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy met in 1972 and immediately forged a friendship that would last more than half a century. O’Hara, who died aged 71 in January 2026 after “a brief illness”, met Levy in 1972 while starring in Godspell. The pair later bonded when he joined the Second City (…)
In addition to playing husband and wife Schitt’s Creek, Eugene and O’Hara collaborated on many projects over the decades, including the Christopher Guest films Waiting for Guffman (1996), The best of the show (2000), A Powerful Wind (2003), i For your consideration (2006).
The couple first met in 1972 and while appearing Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in 2020, they even admitted to briefly going out on “a date or two” in their early days working together as co-stars on Second city
talking with The Hollywood Reporter in 2015, O’Hara opened up about their working relationship, telling the outlet, “I think it’s a very fortunate circumstance, in a way, that we ended up together.”
In the same interview, Eugene said that portraying couples on screen was easy for them because of their natural chemistry.
“We’ve known each other for so long that it’s just a comfortable relationship,” Eugene explained. “And when you’re doing comedy, number one, you want to work with the best people. It’s hard when you’re not working with the best people, so the bottom line is you want really good people who are very skilled at that particular kind of comedy.”
Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy.
(Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)The actress died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, his manager confirmed Us Weekly.
A spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department later confirmed this Us Weekly that paramedics were called to the actress’ home in Brentwood at 4:48 a.m. Friday for a 911 call. O’Hara was transported in “serious condition” to the hospital. The official cause of death has not yet been released.
son of Eugene And, 42 and daughter sarah39, who both also worked on the Emmy-winning sitcom Schitt’s Creek, they were also among those who paid tribute to O’Hara after his death.
“What a gift to have been able to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance all these years.” And he wrote via Instagram on friday “Having spent more than fifty years working with my father, Catherine was extended family before she played my family. It’s hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish all the fun memories I was lucky enough to make with her.”
He added: “My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke and all of their big, beautiful family.”
On the other hand, Sarah shared a heartfelt tribute on his own Instagram account.
“This one cuts deep. What an honor it has been to know, work and love Catherine O’Hara,” Sarah wrote in the caption. “Congratulations to all you brought into this world – you will be greatly missed. ❤️”