Catherine O'Hara

Photo of Catherine O'Hara

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 …
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Job Title

Actor, Writer, Music

Born

Catherine Anne O'Hara on March 4, 1954 in Toronto, Ontario, CA

Career Milestones

Appeared in commercials and on TV in Canada

1973

Hired as a waitress at Second City

1974

Made professional acting debut as a member of Second City in Toronto

1975

Appeared on the Canadian children's show "Comining Up Rosie"

1976

Co-created (also co-wrote and co-starred) "Second City Television"; left in 1981

1979

Film debut, "Nothing Personal"

1980

Appeared on NBC's "Steve Allen Comedy Hour"

1985

First substantial feature supporting role, Martin Scorsese's "After Hours"

1986

Appeared in "Heartburn" with Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson

1988

Co-starred in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice"

1988

Provided character voice on the animated "The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley" (NBC)

1990

Played Kevin MacAllister's mother in "Home Alone"

1990

Played supporting roles in "Dick Tracy" and "Betsey's Wedding"

1991

Directed an episode of HBO's "Dream On" entitled "And Your Little Dog, Too"

1992

Reprised role of Mrs. MacAllister in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York"

1993

Voiced characters in "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas"

1994

Featured in Ron Howard's "The Paper" and Lawrence Kasdan's "Wyatt Earp"

1995

Played Calamity Jane in "Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill"

1996

Co-starred with Fred Willard as a husband-wife pair of small town travel agents in Christopher Guest's "Waiting for Guffman"

1996

Had leading role as Irish matriarch in "Last of the High Kings"

1997

Portrayed the dance teacher coping with a drinking problem in TNT movie "Hope," directed by Goldie Hawn

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"

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)

2000

Reteamed with Guest, Willard, and fellow "SCTV" veteran Eugene Levy for "Best in Show"

2002

Cast as a tipsy mom in "Orange County"

2003

Reteamed with Michael McKean and Eugene Levy in the comedy "A Mighty Wind," written and directed by Christopher Guest

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

2005

Voiced Tina (Alien Mom) in the animated feature "Chicken Little"

2006

Reunited with Guest in his comedy "For Your Consideration"; earned an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best Female Lead

2008

Cast opposite Christina Ricci in "Penelope"; produced by and co-starred Reese Witherspoon

2009

Voiced Judith in Spike Jonze's live-action adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's book classic "Where the Wild Things Are"

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

2010

Co-starred opposite Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl in the action/comedy "Killers"

2010

Nominated for the 2010 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie ("Temple Grandin")

2011

Nominated for the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries ("Temple Grandin")

2012

Reunited with director Tim Burton to voice Mrs. Frankenstein and other characters in animated film "Frankenweenie"

Awards

1982

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in SCTV Network

1983

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in SCTV Network

2006

Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in For Your Consideration

2007

Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in For Your Consideration

2010

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Movie in Temple Grandin