Eugene Levy Honors Catherine O'Hara: 'A Friendship I Will Cherish for the Rest of My Days'
Eugene Levy honored his late friend of over five decades, and co-star, Catherine O'Hara in a heartfelt speech during the Canadian Screen Awards on Sunday.
"My friendship with Catherine O'Hara spanned 50 years, and then some, and it was a friendship I will cherish for the rest of my days," he said at the award show.
The 'Home Alone' icon died in January at age 71 due to a pulmonary embolism as the immediate cause, with rectal cancer as the underlying cause, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office.
"I first worked with Catherine in 1974 at the Second City Theater here in Toronto, and there was no denying she was an extraordinarily gifted young woman when it came to comedy. Getting laughs for her was second nature. She made it look easy, and that comedic gift was the gift that kept on giving on [Second City Television]," he continued.
@cbcgem Eugene Levy's tribute to his longtime friend Catherine O'Hara (📺: 2026 Canadian Screen Awards) #CdnScreenAwards
♬ original sound - CBC Gem
Levy went on to list her roles on the Canadian sketch comedy show, known as SCTV, which included Lola Heatherton, Dusty Town, and Margaret Meehan.
"These are characters that will stand the test of time and continue to make people laugh for generations to come," Levy said, before referencing her Schitt's Creek character, Moira Rose and deeming the quirky matriarch "one of the most iconic characters in the history of television comedy."
Related: 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Songwriter Shares 'Priceless' Memory of Catherine O'Hara
Levy, who mentioned "she was the one person I spent the most time working with over our 50 year careers," starred opposite O'Hara on the beloved sitcom that ran from 2015-2020 and also starred Levy's son Dan Levy.
Speaking in front of a Canadian audience, Levy naturally brought up the fact that she loved her "idyllic island cottage in Muskoka," and ultimately, "she made us proud to be Canadian."
"Catherine O'Hara was simply the best," Levy concluded.
Following her passing, tributes poured in notably from her co-stars from her storied career including Martin Short, Steve Martin, Tim Burton, and Macaulay Culkin.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 1:58 PM.