- A Tearful Tribute for Catherine O'Hara
- A Final Standing Ovation for a Comedy Legend
- Breaking Records, Leaving a Legacy
At the 2026 Actor Awards, actress Catherine O'Hara was posthumously honored for her role in the comedy series 'The Studio' — a moment that deeply touched Hollywood. After the Canadian actress passed away in January at the age of 71, co-star Seth Rogen accepted the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series on her behalf.
He spoke of a “very sad honor” and was visibly fighting back tears as the audience rose to their feet, paying tribute to the late legend with minutes of applause.
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Seth Rogen Remembers O’Hara as a Generous Genius
In his speech, Rogen reflected on their work together on 'The Studio' and described Catherine O’Hara as a rare combination of genius and warmth. “Something I’ve been marveling over the past few weeks was her ability to be generous and kind and gracious while never ever minimizing her own talents,” Rogen said.
For him, she embodied proof that artistic brilliance and genuine kindness need not be mutually exclusive.
Creative Emails Show O’Hara as a Perfectionist
Rogen also offered an intimate glimpse into O’Hara’s working methods. Almost every evening before a day of shooting, she would send him and co-creator Evan Goldberg an email beginning with, “Hello, I hope you'll consider the following” — followed by a completely rewritten version of their scene.
“And literally, 100% of the time, it made not just her character better, but it made the scene better and the entire show better as a whole,” he explained. The anecdote illustrated how meticulously the actress refined her lines and timing — and how much she cared about the overall production, not just her own performance.
Colleagues Fight Back Tears
During Rogen’s speech, many stars in the audience were visibly moved. Actress Kathryn Hahn wiped tears from her face as cameras captured her emotional reaction. Jenna Ortega, who starred alongside O’Hara in Beetlejuice and was nominated in the same category, also struggled to maintain her composure and was seen dabbing her eyes.
Historic Record and Lasting Legacy
Catherine O'Hara made history with her award for 'The Studio': she became the first woman in the history of the actors’ union to receive an individual trophy posthumously. She had previously been honored as part of the ensemble cast of 'The Studio' and had also won in the same category for the final season of 'Schitt’s Creek.'
This year, 'The Studio' received several awards overall, including Best Comedy Ensemble, while Seth Rogen was also honored as Best Actor in a Leading Role. In his speech, he encouraged audiences to revisit O’Hara’s work — whether her legendary dance to Harry Belafonte in 'Beetlejuice' or her unforgettable slapstick scene in 'Best in Show' — and to consider themselves fortunate to have lived in a time when she shared her talent so generously.
