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Catherine O'Hara Biography

Birth Name:Catherine Anne O'Hara

Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Writer, Director, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Honored with a spot on the Canada Walk of Fame in June of 2007
  • Grew up watching "The Three Stooges," "The Carol Burnett Show," "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" and "Monty Python․"
  • Served as an understudy for Gilda Radner while performing with The Second City company troupe in Toronto during the early '70s
  • Quote: "I lived in LA for a few months․ It seemed like no one there had parents․ Or if they did have parents, they would deny it․"
  • Quote: "I only want to write․ I don't care about directing really․ I've tried it and it was fun, but it's not like something I have to do․"
  • Quote: "There are more and more women writing, and there are more and more good male writers who decided and learned that it's worth writing for women․ I guess the more women are present and out there in life, the more their stories will be told․"
  • Best known for her film appearances alongside fellow "SCTV" co-stars including John Candy, Eugene Levy and Joe Flaherty
  • Started in show business on "SCTV" and became a regular performer before moving on to voiceover work and television roles
  • Some of her memorable roles have been in Christopher Guests' mockumentaries
  • High school friends with fellow comic Robin Duke, who would eventually take her place on "Saturday Night Live" after she decided to return to "SCTV" as a writer

Awards

  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1994CableACE-Actress in a Dramatic Series: nominated
  • 1998Gemini-Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series: nominated
  • 2000Genie-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2001American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2001Canadian Comedy Award-Film - Pretty Funny Female Performance: winner
  • 2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2003LAFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 2003Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Music: winner
  • 2004Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
  • 2004Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2004FFCC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2004Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2004PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2006EDA Award-Best Actress in a Comedic Performance: nominated
  • 2006Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
  • 2006KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2006NBR Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2006NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2006NYFCO Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2007Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2007Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2007Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2007Independent Spirit Award-Best Female Lead: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2011Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2011Bronze Wrangler-Television Feature Film: winner
  • 2013Annie-Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 2016ACTRA Toronto Award-Outstanding Performance - Female: winner
  • 2016Canadian Screen Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role: winner
  • 2017Canadian Screen Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role: winner
  • 2018Canadian Screen Award-Best Lead Actress, Comedy: winner
  • 2019Canadian Screen Award-Best Lead Actress, Comedy: winner
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Actress of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Lead Actress: nominated
  • 2019IGN Award-Best TV Ensemble: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2019Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2019TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 2020Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2020Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2020Canadian Screen Award-Best Lead Actress, Comedy: winner
  • 2020Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2020Dorian Award-TV Performance of the Year - Actress: nominated
  • 2020Dorian Award-Best TV Performance - Actress: winner
  • 2020Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Actress: winner
  • 2020IGN Award-Best Comedic TV Performance: winner
  • 2020IGN Award-Best TV Ensemble: winner
  • 2020OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2020TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: winner
  • 2021AACTA International Award-Best Actress in a Series: nominated
  • 2021Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress - Television: winner
  • 2021Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2021Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2021Canadian Screen Award-Best Lead Actress, Comedy: winner
  • 2021Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2021Gracie-Actress in a Leading Role - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2021Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2025Astra TV Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2025Astra TV Award-Best Cast Ensemble in a Streaming Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2025Astra TV Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2025CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: nominated
  • 2025Dorian Award-Best Supporting TV Performance - Comedy: nominated
  • 2025Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2025Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2025STARmeter Award-Fan Favorite Ensemble: winner
  • 2025OFTA Television Award-Best Casting & Ensemble in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2025OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2025OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2026Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress - Television: nominated
  • 2026Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2026Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2026Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television: nominated
  • 2026Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries and Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated