The cast and crew of The Studio is paying tribute to Catherine O’Hara, who played movie executive Patty Leigh in the Apple TV comedy.
O’Hara died Friday at the age of 71 after a brief illness. Remembrances of the beloved actress and two-time Emmy Award winner have poured in from colleagues, friends and admirers — The Studio team very much among them.
“We are all heartbroken by the loss of Catherine O’Hara,” Apple TV and Lionsgate Television, which produces the series, said in a joint statement. “An undeniable legend, icon, and incomparable talent, Catherine elevated every project she was a part of, including the singular genius she brought to her role on The Studio, and every transcendent performance she gifted to us. Her artistic accomplishments will forever bring humor, light, and love for generations to come, and her brilliance and generosity of spirit touched everyone around her. We will hold her in our hearts always, and extend our thoughts and deepest sympathies to her husband Bo [Welch], and children, Matthew and Luke.”
The Studio cast and crew said in a separate statement, “We are at a loss for words at the passing of our friend Catherine O’Hara. She was a hero to all of us, and we pinched ourselves every day that we got to work with her on The Studio. She was somehow classy, warm, and hilarious all at the same time. We’re unbelievably saddened she is gone and send our deepest sympathy to Bo and all her family.”
In addition to the collective remembrance, co-creator and star Seth Rogen posted a personal tribute to O’Hara.
“I told O’Hara when I first met her I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen,” Rogen wrote on Instagram, with a picture of a smiling O’Hara leaning against his back. “Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies. Getting to work with her was a true honour. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous … she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.”
Ike Barinholtz, who plays Sal Saperstein in the series, wrote on Instagram that he “never in a million years thought I would get to work with Catherine O’Hara, let alone become friends with her. So profoundly sad she’s somewhere else now. So incredibly grateful I got to spend the time I did with her. Thank you Catherine I love you.”
O’Hara earned an Emmy nomination for best supporting actress in a comedy series on The Studio’s first season. She was slated to reprise her role as Patty in season two, which began production earlier this month.
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