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Catherine O'Hara Biography

Birth Name:
Catherine Anne O'Hara
Birth Place:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Profession
Actor, director, writer, comedian

Fast Facts

  • Began acting at age 7 when she played Mary in a nativity play
  • Waited tables at the Toronto Second City Theatre Company in 1973; joined the troupe in 1974 and quickly replaced Gilda Radner as a regular when Radner left for SNL
  • Became one of the founding members of the sketch-comedy series SCTV in 1976 Won a Genie Award for her work in the film The Life Before This (1999)
  • Earned an American Comedy Award in 2001 for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in the 2000 mockumentary Best in Show; has appeared in three other Christopher Guest films (Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration)
  • Was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2007
  • Spoke at the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics
  • Is a singer-songwriter and performed with the group Northern Lights on the song "Tears Are Not Enough" from the 1985 album We Are the World

Awards

  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2020Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2020Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2019Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2019Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2019Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2007Independent Spirit Awards-Best Female Lead: nominated
  • 2007Critics' Choice Awards-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2006Kansas City Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2006New York Film Critics Online-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2006New York Film Critics Society-Best Supporting Actress (Runner-up): winner
  • 2006National Board of Review-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2004Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 1999Genie Awards-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 1983Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1982Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated

Relationships