In a poignant moment at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Seth Rogen paid emotional tribute to his late co-star Catherine O'Hara, accepting her posthumous award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series. The beloved comedic actor, who passed away in late January at age 71, was remembered for her immense talent and generous spirit during Sunday's ceremony.
A Heartfelt Acceptance Speech
Rogen described accepting the award as a "very sad honor" and shared how O'Hara would have been deeply moved to receive recognition from her fellow performers. "I know she would have been honored to receive this award from her fellow performers, who I know she respected so much," said an emotional Rogen. "She was such big fans of all of yours."
Remembering a Collaborative Genius
The actor reflected on his time working with O'Hara on Apple TV+'s "The Studio," highlighting her unique ability to balance kindness with professional excellence. "Her ability to be generous and kind and gracious while never, ever minimizing her own talents," Rogen recalled. "She knew she could destroy, and she wanted to destroy every day on set."
Rogen revealed a touching behind-the-scenes detail about O'Hara's dedication to her craft. "Pretty much every evening before she had a shooting day on our show, she would email me and Evan an email that always was pretty similar," he shared, referring to co-creator Evan Goldberg. "It said, 'Hello, I hope you'll consider the following.' And then there would be a completely rewritten version of the scene."
Remarkably, Rogen noted that "literally 100% of the time, it made not just her character better, but it made the scene better and the entire show better as a whole."
A Legacy of Kindness and Talent
Rogen used his speech to emphasize O'Hara's enduring lesson to the entertainment industry. He praised her knack for showing people "that you can be a genius and be kind, and one of those things does not have to come at the expense of the other in any way, shape or form."
Sharing Her Work with Future Generations
The actor offered specific advice for keeping O'Hara's legacy alive. "If you have people in your lives that don't know her work — if they're kids in your lives, or just people who are out of touch or stupid or something — just show them O'Hara dancing to Harry Belafonte in 'Beetlejuice,'" Rogen suggested. "Show them O'Hara hurting her knee in 'Best in Show' and doing that amazing thing, where she hobbles around, and tell the people, as they're laughing, that that's Captain O'Hara."
He concluded with a heartfelt sentiment: "We were lucky that we got to live in a world where she so generally shared her talents with us."
Career Recognition and Unfinished Work
Shortly before her passing, O'Hara received her seventh career nomination from SAG for her role as tough former studio chief Patty Leigh in "The Studio." This marked her final screen performance. Beyond the Actor Awards, her work on the series earned her an Emmy nomination last year for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy.
Season 2 Uncertainties
According to industry sources, O'Hara was originally scheduled to appear in early scenes of "The Studio" Season 2, which began filming in mid-January. However, she withdrew due to "personal matters" before production commenced. "She was scheduled to film, but they reworked the schedule to focus on scenes without her character," an insider revealed. "I don't believe she ever filmed anything for Season 2."
It remains unclear whether the late star will appear in any capacity in the upcoming season, though her absence has been deeply felt by the cast and crew.
Industry Tributes and Remembrances
Following O'Hara's passing, her "The Studio" castmates and crew issued a touching statement expressing their grief. "We are at a loss for words at the passing of our friend Catherine O'Hara," the statement read. "She was a hero to all of us, and we pinched ourselves every day that we got to work with her on 'The Studio.'"
The message continued: "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," referencing her husband, Bo Welch.
Apple TV+ and Lionsgate Television, which produces "The Studio," also released a joint statement honoring O'Hara's legacy. They remembered her as "an undeniable legend, icon and incomparable talent" who "elevated every project she was a part of."
The statement concluded: "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."
