Biography
Known for her offbeat film and television performances, Catherine O'Hara established herself as a talented comedic actor who could ably handle dramatic roles as well. The Canadian actress eschewed college in favor of Toronto's Second City improvisational comedy troupe where she quickly replaced Gilda Radner after the latter jumped ship to "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ). O'Hara more than filled Radner's shoes, stealing scenes from such …
Catherine O'Hara SlideShow
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Career Milestones
2012 | Reunited with director Tim Burton to voice Mrs. Frankenstein and other characters in animated film "Frankenweenie" | |
2011 | Nominated for the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries ("Temple Grandin") | |
2010 | Nominated for the 2010 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie ("Temple Grandin") | |
2010 | Co-starred opposite Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl in the action/comedy "Killers" | |
2010 | Cast opposite Claire Danes in biographical drama "Temple Grandin" (HBO); earned an Emmy (2010) nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | |
2009 | Voiced Judith in Spike Jonze's live-action adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's book classic "Where the Wild Things Are" | |
2008 | Cast opposite Christina Ricci in "Penelope"; produced by and co-starred Reese Witherspoon | |
2006 | Reunited with Guest in his comedy "For Your Consideration"; earned an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best Female Lead | |
2005 | Voiced Tina (Alien Mom) in the animated feature "Chicken Little" | |
2004 | Cast in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," based on the children's books by Daniel Handler | |
2004 | Cast in the TNT special "The Wool Cap," which starred William H. Macy and Don Rickles | |
2003 | Reteamed with Michael McKean and Eugene Levy in the comedy "A Mighty Wind," written and directed by Christopher Guest | |
2002 | Cast as a tipsy mom in "Orange County" | |
2000 | Reteamed with Guest, Willard, and fellow "SCTV" veteran Eugene Levy for "Best in Show" | |
1999 | Acted in the Canadian independent feature "Life Before This" | |
1999 | Featured in the independent comedy "Late Last Night" (aired on Starz! in lieu of theatrical release) | |
1998 | Played a conniving, somewhat delusional woman who gets her two sons (Jake Busey, Luke Wilson) to scare her cheating husband to death in the quirky comedy "Home Fries" | |
1997 | Portrayed the dance teacher coping with a drinking problem in TNT movie "Hope," directed by Goldie Hawn | |
1996 | Had leading role as Irish matriarch in "Last of the High Kings" | |
1996 | Co-starred with Fred Willard as a husband-wife pair of small town travel agents in Christopher Guest's "Waiting for Guffman" | |
1995 | Played Calamity Jane in "Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill" | |
1994 | Featured in Ron Howard's "The Paper" and Lawrence Kasdan's "Wyatt Earp" | |
1993 | Voiced characters in "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" | |
1992 | Reprised role of Mrs. MacAllister in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" | |
1991 | Directed an episode of HBO's "Dream On" entitled "And Your Little Dog, Too" | |
1990 | Played Kevin MacAllister's mother in "Home Alone" | |
1990 | Played supporting roles in "Dick Tracy" and "Betsey's Wedding" | |
1988 | Provided character voice on the animated "The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley" (NBC) | |
1988 | Co-starred in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" | |
1986 | Appeared in "Heartburn" with Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson | |
1985 | First substantial feature supporting role, Martin Scorsese's "After Hours" | |
1980 | Appeared on NBC's "Steve Allen Comedy Hour" | |
1979 | Film debut, "Nothing Personal" | |
1976 | Co-created (also co-wrote and co-starred) "Second City Television"; left in 1981 | |
1975 | Appeared on the Canadian children's show "Comining Up Rosie" | |
1974 | Made professional acting debut as a member of Second City in Toronto | |
1973 | Hired as a waitress at Second City | |
| Appeared in commercials and on TV in Canada | ||
Awards
2010 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Movie in Temple Grandin |
2007 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in For Your Consideration |
2006 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in For Your Consideration |
1983 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in SCTV Network |
1982 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in SCTV Network |