Catherine O'Hara was a Canadian actress known for her comedic work in film and television. Throughout her career she received various awards including two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and four Actor Awards.
O'Hara started her career as a performer and writer on the Canadian sketch comedy show Second City Television (1976–1984), where she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 1982. She starred in a string of Christopher Guest comedy films such as Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2005) for which she was nominated for various critics groups. For her performance as Temple Grandin's Aunt in the HBO television movie Temple Grandin (2010) she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie.
She gained a career resurgence and acclaim for her portrayal as Moira Rose in the Pop TV sitcom Schitt's Creek (2015–2020). The role earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series. For her work in the Apple TV+ series The Studio, O'Hara posthumously won both the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series and the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Over her career she received several honorary awards including the US-Ireland Alliance's Oscar Wilde Award in 2018, the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards's Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award (Broadcasting and Film) in 2019, the Dorian Award for Timeless Star in 2020, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award in 2020. She was also selected as Forbes 50 Over 50 in 2021 and named Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Icon Award at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023.
Major associations Emmy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Primetime Emmy Awards 1982Outstanding Writing for a Variety SeriesSCTV Network 90 (Episode: "Moral Majority Show") SCTV Network 90 (Episode: "Cycle Two, Show Two") SCTV Network 90 (Episode: "Staff Christmas Party") SCTV Network 90 (Episode: "The Great White North Palace") 1983SCTV Network 90 (Episode: "The Christmas Show") 2010 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Temple Grandin 2019Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Schitt's Creek (episode: "The Crowening") 2020 Schitt's Creek (episode: "The Incident") 2025 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series The Studio Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series The Last of Us
Golden Globe Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2020 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Schitt's Creek 2026 Best Supporting Actress on Television The Studio
Actor Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2011 Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie Temple Grandin 2019 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesSchitt's Creek (season five) Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series 2021 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Schitt's Creek (season six) Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series 2026 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series The Studio (season one) Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Canadian awards ACTRA Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1978 Best Variety PerformanceSCTV 2016Outstanding Performance - FemaleSchitt's Creek 2017Members' Choice Series Ensemble 2018Members' Choice Series Ensemble 2019Members' Choice Series Ensemble 2020 ACTRA National Award of Excellence Lifetime achievement Members' Choice Series Ensemble Schitt's Creek 2021 Members' Choice Series Ensemble
Canadian Comedy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2000 Best Performance by a Female - FilmBest in Show 2018Multimedia/Comedic Artist of the Year Schitt's Creek
Canadian Screen Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2016Legacy AwardLifetime Achievement Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role Schitt's Creek 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2023 Academy Icon AwardLifetime Achievement
Gemini Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 1995Earle Grey Award (with the cast of SCTV)SCTV 1998Best Guest Actress in a Dramatic SeriesThe Outer Limits
Genie Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2000Best Actress in a Supporting RoleThe Life Before This
Miscellaneous awards Year Award Category Work Result 2021 AACTA Awards Best Actress in a Series Schitt's Creek 2003AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best Grownup Love Story A Mighty Wind Best Actress 2006 Best Actress For Your Consideration 2021 Best Actress (Television) Schitt's Creek 2026 Best Actress (Television)The Studio 2006 Alliance of Women Film JournalistsBest Actress in a Comedic Performance For Your Consideration 2001American Comedy AwardsFunniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Best in Show 2012Annie AwardsVoice Acting in a Feature ProductionFrankenweenie 2025 Astra AwardsBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe Studio Best Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Last of Us (HBO) 1994CableACE AwardsActress in a Dramatic SeriesThe Hidden Room (Episode: The First Battle) 2006 Chlotrudis Awards Best Supporting Actress For Your Consideration 2020Dorian AwardsTV Performance of the Year - Actress Schitt's Creek Timeless Star 2020 Best TV Performance - Actress Schitt's Creek 2025 Best Supporting TV Performance—Comedy The Studio 2006 Gotham Independent Film AwardsBest Ensemble Cast For Your Consideration 2021 Gracie Awards Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Schitt's Creek 2006 Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead For Your Consideration 2019Online Film & Television AssociationBest Actress in a Comedy SeriesSchitt's Creek Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2020Best Actress in a Comedy Series Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2025 Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series The Studio Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series The Last Of Us 2001 Satellite AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical Best in Show 2004 Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical A Mighty Wind 2010 Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Television Temple Grandin 2019Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical Schitt's Creek 2021 Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series 2026 Best Supporting Actress in a Series Miniseries or Television Film The Studio 2019 TCA AwardsIndividual Achievement in Comedy Schitt's Creek 2020 Individual Achievement In Comedy 2011Western Heritage AwardsTelevision Feature Film Temple Grandin
Critics awards +YearAwardCategoryWorkResult 2006 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actress For Your Consideration 2019 Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Actress in a Comedy SeriesSchitt's Creek 2020 Best Actress in a Comedy Series 2003Florida Film Critics Circle AwardsBest Ensemble Cast A Mighty Wind 2006 Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting Actress For Your Consideration 2003 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Music Score For Your Consideration 2006National Board of Review Best Supporting Actress For Your Consideration 2006 New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting Actress For Your Consideration 2006 New York Film Critics, OnlineBest Supporting Actress For Your Consideration 2003 Phoenix Film Critics Society AwardsBest Ensemble Acting A Mighty Wind 2003Seattle Film Critics AwardsBest Music A Mighty Wind 2015Toronto International Film FestivalBirks Diamond Tribute AwardLifetime Achievement 2025Toronto International Film FestivalNorman Jewison Career Achievement AwardLifetime Achievement
Honorary awards O'Hara was selected for the inaugural 2021 Forbes 50 Over 50; made up of entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists and creators who are over the age of 50. O'Hara is also referenced in the Bran Van 3000 song "Supermodel" from their 1996 album Glee. In January 2023, she was named the winner of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Icon Award at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards.Etan Vlessing, "Ryan Reynolds, Simu Liu, Catherine O’Hara to Receive Honorary Canadian Screen Awards" . The Hollywood Reporter, January 18, 2023.
+YearAssociation AwardResult 2018US-Ireland Alliance Oscar Wilde Award 2019 Legionnaires of Laughter Legacy Awards Best Comedy Artist Female 2019 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award (Broadcasting and Film) 2020 Carnegie Corporation of New York Great Immigrants 2021Top 25 Women of Influence Recipient
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