Steve Martin and Martin Short Pay Tribute to Catherine O’Hara During Comedy Show Shortly After Her Passing

Steve Martin; Catherine O’Hara; Martin Short.
Credit :

Daniel Knighton/Getty; Mike Marsland/WireImage; Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty 

NEED TO KNOW

• Catherine O’Hara died on Jan. 30 at age 71 “after a brief illness,” a representative confirmed.
• Steve Martin and Martin Short honored the late actress during their comedy show in Texas, just hours after her passing.
• “She had been the greatest, most brilliant, kindest, sweetest angel that any of us worked with,” Short stated onstage, raising a toast to O’Hara.

Steve Martin and Martin Short are paying tribute to their late friend and colleague Catherine O’Hara. Following her passing on January 30, O’Hara’s fellow actors honored her during “The Best of Steve Martin and Martin Short” comedy show in Austin, Texas, just hours after the announcement of her death.

Martin Short, 75, fondly recalled O’Hara, expressing, “Catherine O’Hara, I met when she was 18 years old.” He continued, “And all these years later, she had been the greatest, most brilliant, kindest, sweetest angel that any of us worked with.” As he spoke, he raised his glass in a heartfelt toast, prompting the audience to cheer in celebration of her life and career.

Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short in 2017.

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

O’Hara, celebrated for her performances in films and television shows such as *Beetlejuice*, *Schitt’s Creek*, and *Best in Show*, passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 71. Her death, attributed to a brief illness, has left a significant impact on the entertainment community.

In light of her passing, many have expressed their condolences, including Macaulay Culkin, who portrayed her son in the *Home Alone* franchise. He shared a touching tribute on Instagram, stating, “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you but I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”

Culkin first met O’Hara at the age of 10, but their bond has remained strong over the years. Another notable tribute came from Eugene Levy, who co-starred with O’Hara in *Schitt’s Creek*. In a heartfelt statement, he expressed, “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. From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to *SCTV*, to the movies we did with Chris Guest, to our six glorious years on *Schitt’s Creek*, I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship.”

Dan Levy, Eugene’s son, also shared his sentiments, writing, “What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years. It’s hard to imagine a world without her in it.” He concluded by remembering their joyful moments together and extending his condolences to O’Hara’s family.

Catherine O’Hara with Steve Martin in ‘A Simple Twist of Fate’ (1994).

SNAP/REX Shutterstock