Catherine O’Hara Wanted to Be Remembered for Special Role

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Catherine O’Hara, the beloved comedic actress known for roles in shows like Schitt’s Creek and Second City Television, and films such as Home Alone and Beetlejuice, sadly passed away yesterday, January 30th, at the age of 71. While she had a remarkable career, she hoped to be remembered for more than just her work. Reports indicate she experienced breathing difficulties before emergency services were called to her Los Angeles home, though the specific cause of death hasn’t been released. Her passing has prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from colleagues and fans alike.

A recent interview with TMZ revealed that actress Shelley O’Hara was once asked at an airport which role she’d most like to be remembered for. Her response was heartfelt: “The mother of my children,” referring to her sons, Matthew and Luke Welch, with her husband Bo Welch. This echoes comments she made on the Wiser Than Me podcast in 2024, where she told Julia Louis-Dreyfus she hadn’t prioritized work while her sons were young.

I recall receiving my first two job offers – the salaries were around £5,000 to £9,000. One was in London. When considering my career path, my family has always been my top priority. As a father of two young sons, I often wondered what the point of having children was if I wasn’t going to spend time with them. That consideration has always been, and will continue to be, the most important factor in my decisions.

Catherine O’Hara Was Never Better Than in Christmas Classic


Buena Vista Pictures

Many fans don’t fully appreciate Catherine O’Hara’s beautiful and moving vocal performance as Sally in the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas. Created by the grumpy Dr. Finkelstein, Sally is a lonely ragdoll who longs to escape her life as a servant and find love with Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. When Jack becomes withdrawn after discovering Christmas Town, O’Hara’s character delivers one of the movie’s most emotionally powerful scenes through song. “Sally’s Song” perfectly captures her feelings of unreturned love – or what she believes is unreturned love – for Jack.

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After learning about the death of a member of the cast, Henry Selick, director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, spoke with The Daily Mail.

I’ve been a fan of Catherine O’Hara ever since her days on the Canadian comedy show, Second City TV, where she was both a performer and a creator. Later, I was thrilled to work with her when she lent her voice to the character of Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas, the animated film I directed with Tim Burton.

She was initially a bit intimidating – incredibly intelligent, beautiful, and a true professional who wasn’t afraid to challenge me. She used to get frustrated with how many retakes I’d request. But years later, she admitted she understood; those repeated takes were actually how I developed the character.

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2026-02-01 02:34