Celebrating Catherine O’Hara

As a child of the ‘90s, my first experience of seeing Catherine O’Hara’s comedic brilliance was as a feisty onscreen mom. First, as she was fighting to get home to her son Kevin in Home Alone, and later as Delia Deetz, disrupting the mediocrity of the suburbs by hosting a séance in her home in Beetlejuice. She was instantly memorable to me. She pitched her voice into a high-pitched hysteria to create hilarious reactions to dramatic and absurd situations. It wasn’t until years later that I realized that she was the voice of both Sally the rag doll and Shock the trick-or-treater in another of my favorite childhood films, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Not only was she the voice of these characters, but she also sang their beloved songs. The character of Sally, which Catherine O'Hara's voice made so memorable, has inspired a new book series, which starts with the title Long Live The Pumpkin Queen, opens a new window that you can check out from the library.

Emo-Teenage-Future-Librarian-Sarah might have taken some inspiration from these films. While in a critique in an art class in college, a sculpture I made was described as “like a Delia Deetz sculpture, opens a new window” and, though surprised by this comment, I must admit I was also a little proud.

Home Alone, opens a new window

Beetle Juice

The Nightmare Before Christmas, opens a new window

As an adult, I learned about Catherine O’Hara’s work on the Canadian variety show Second City, where she acted alongside other comedy legends like Eugene Levy, opens a new window, John Candy, opens a new window, and Harold Ramis, opens a new window. Later, she was a frequent star of absurdist films by director and actor Christopher Guest, opens a new window. I especially enjoy Best in Show, a satire about dog shows. Christopher Guest is heavily featured on my cringe comedy list, opens a new window. Get ready to laugh and, if you’re anything like me, feel terribly embarrassed for all the characters.

Best in Show, opens a new window

A Mighty Wind, opens a new window

I watched Schitt’$ Creek, opens a new window while hunkering down in 2020. I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first. Was I really going to watch a show about an obnoxious, wealthy family? But it became clear that there was much more to the story, and these iconic characters, especially Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose. This show is now a comfort watch that I have since revisited.

After The Nightmare Before Christmas, she continued to contribute her voice acting talents to many animated films. 

When Marnie Was There, opens a new window

Frankenweenie, opens a new window

The Addams Family, opens a new window

Elemental, opens a new window

The Wild Robot, opens a new window

Catherine O’Hara left us too soon, but at least we have the gift of so many wonderfully weird, funny, and heartwarming performances to revisit any time.

After Hours, opens a new window

Home Fries, opens a new window

Home Alone 2, opens a new window

Temple Grandin, opens a new window

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, opens a new window