Lifes a bear sometimes, and then you die…

So, sad, she had her time, and a following. So we must bear up and accept her last hurrahs…

RIP Catherine O’Hara

Oh Canada, we guard with thee…

We will remember!

With a giggle and a glee…

life and times.

Catherine O’Hara is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and influential figures in sketch comedy, having launched her career as an original cast member of SCTV (Second City Television). Sadly, today—January 30, 2026—marks her passing at the age of 71, but her legacy on SCTV remains a cornerstone of comedic history.The Origins:

From Waitress to Star

O’Hara’s journey with the Second City troupe in Toronto began in the early 1970s. Interestingly, her first job at the club was as a waitress. After an initially unsuccessful audition, she was eventually hired for the touring company by John Candy and famously replaced Gilda Radner in the main cast in 1974 when Radner left for New York.Career on SCTV (1976–1984)In 1976, O’Hara helped create SCTV alongside comedic legends like John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Martin Short. She was the show’s “resident funny woman,” known for her fearless commitment to physical comedy and complex character work. * Iconic Characters: * Lola Heatherton: Perhaps her most famous creation, Lola was a boozy, high-energy, and desperate-for-attention variety star whose signature catchphrase was, “I wanna bear your children!”

* Dusty Towne:

A clueless, middle-of-the-road comedian. * Katharine Timber: A self-absorbed talk show host who would never let her guests get a word in. * Celebrity Impressions: She was a master of mimicry, delivering legendary parodies of Meryl Streep, Lucille Ball, Elizabeth Taylor, Brooke Shields, and a deadpan Katharine Hepburn. * Writing Prowess: Beyond her acting, O’Hara was a key writer for the series. She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1982 for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program.Impact and CollaborationsHer time on SCTV established a lifelong partnership with Eugene Levy, with whom she would later star in Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries (like Best in Show) and the award-winning series Schitt’s Creek. Her SCTV training—honing her ability to use “just an intonation or a mispronounced word” for comedic effect—is often cited as the foundation for her later iconic role as Moira Rose.

You may want to know more about her famous film collaborations with Christopher Guest or her award-winning run on Schitt’s Creek?