In a heartwarming tribute, comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short paid homage to the late Catherine O'Hara during their 'The Best of Steve Martin and Martin Short' show in Austin, Texas. The emotional gesture came just hours after O'Hara's passing was announced, leaving fans and colleagues alike in awe of her enduring legacy.
'Catherine O'Hara, I met her when she was just 18, and she has been the greatest, most brilliant, kindest, sweetest angel any of us could have worked with,' Short said alongside Martin. 'So god bless Catherine,' he added, raising his glass in a heartfelt toast.
The tribute was accompanied by a large image of the actress on the screen behind them, a poignant reminder of her impact on the entertainment industry. O'Hara's passing at the age of 71 was confirmed by her agency, CAA, who stated that she passed away at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.
A longtime friend and collaborator, Short first met O'Hara on the Canadian sketch comedy series 'Second City Television,' which ran from 1976 to 1984. Martin, meanwhile, previously worked with the 'Best in Show' and 'Schitt's Creek' actor on the 1994 film 'A Simple Twist of Fate,' directed by Gillies MacKinnon.
Since O'Hara's death, a number of stars have shared heartfelt messages. '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,' O'Hara's 'Home Alone' co-star Macaulay Culkin wrote on Instagram. 'I love you. I'll see you later.'
Seth Rogen, who co-starred with O'Hara on 'The Studio,' also shared his thoughts on Instagram. 'Really don't know what to say... 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. 'Home Alone' was the movie that made me want to make movies,' Rogen wrote. 'Getting to work with her was a true honor. 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.'
O'Hara's passing has sparked a wave of tributes and reflections from those who knew and loved her, a testament to her enduring impact on the entertainment industry. As fans and colleagues continue to pay their respects, her legacy as a beloved actress and comedian will undoubtedly live on.
