Michael P. O’Hara is opening up about the poignant, unconventional farewell he shared with his sister, the legendary Catherine O’Hara, shortly before her passing on Jan. 28. In a recent reflection on their bond, Catherine O’Hara’s brother says actress ‘wasn’t talking much ‘ describing a period of withdrawal that made a subconscious encounter feel like their only true goodbye.
Speaking on the season 3 premiere of his podcast, Dreams of Our Loved Ones, Michael detailed a dream visitation that occurred just days before his sister died. He described the experience as a “beautiful” moment of connection, consisting of a hug that served as a spiritual closing of the circle.
“I always cherish the times I can meet with a loved one in the dream state,” Michael said. “And I was hugging her, which was really beautiful. And I guess it was sort of a goodbye.”
The silence of the final days
The necessity of this dream farewell stemmed from a painful reality: Catherine had become increasingly distant in her final weeks. Michael explained that the actress, who lived in Los Angeles, had largely ceased communicating, including avoiding phone calls.
This silence created a void for her family, making the “dream state” the only venue for a final interaction. However, Michael noted that the visitations did not stop with her passing. He recounted a subsequent dream in which Catherine appeared happy and preoccupied, residing in a new house undergoing renovations and carefully selecting furniture and couches.
In that dream, she invited him to stay with her, a gesture Michael said mirrored their early years in the industry. He recalled a time when Catherine was performing with The Second City and he was apprenticing at the Windsor Arms Hotel, often sleeping in her spare bedroom. To Michael, these visions suggest she is “very busy in the other world,” providing him a sense of peace and continued interconnection.
A collective loss for the comedy world
The grief extends far beyond the O’Hara family, echoing through a creative community that viewed Catherine as an irreplaceable force. Dan Levy, who co-created and starred in Schitt’s Creek alongside O’Hara, recently spoke about the void her absence leaves in the industry.
During an appearance on The Tonight Demonstrate Starring Jimmy Fallon, Levy described the passing as a “collective loss,” noting that the outpouring of public affection for O’Hara provided some comfort. He characterized her as “the greatest” and “irreplaceable,” observing that the general public felt a personal kinship with her.
Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Annie Murphy, and Daniel Levy on ‘Schitt’s Creek’
Credit: Pop TV
The emotional weight of the loss was further highlighted during a visit to Goodwood, Ontario—the filming location for Schitt’s Creek. In a conversation with CBS Sunday Morning, Levy became visibly emotional when asked about the possibility of a revival or sequel to the series.
The end of the ‘Schitt’s Creek’ era
For years, rumors of a Schitt’s Creek reboot or sequel have circulated, and Levy admitted he had been “thinking about” such possibilities prior to O’Hara’s death. However, the prospect of continuing the story without the woman who played the iconic matriarch Moira Rose is, in his words, impossible.
“No, not now,” Levy said when asked if there could ever be more of the series. “You can’t.”
The creative partnership between O’Hara and the Levy family was one of the most enduring in Canadian comedy. Her collaboration with Eugene Levy began in the 1970s at Toronto’s Second City, evolving through the sketch comedy of SCTV and various mockumentaries directed by Christopher Guest before culminating in her Emmy-winning turn as Moira Rose.
Levy noted that he is now focusing on the memories they shared, stating that those recollections are “what you have to hold onto.”
Career Milestones of Catherine O’Hara
| Era | Key Project/Institution | Notable Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | The Second City | Foundational improv and sketch function |
| 1980s | SCTV | Defining character-driven comedy |
| 2015–2020 | Schitt’s Creek | Emmy-winning role as Moira Rose |
As the industry continues to process the loss of a comedic titan, the focus has shifted toward preserving her legacy through the archives of her work and the personal stories shared by those closest to her. Although the door has closed on future iterations of her most recent hit, the influence of her precise, eccentric brand of humor remains a blueprint for generations of performers.
Further tributes from her peers and collaborators are expected as the community commemorates her contributions to the arts.
Do you have a favorite Catherine O’Hara performance or memory? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
