Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy met in 1972 and immediately forged a friendship that would last more than half a century.
O’Hara, who died at age 71 in January 2026 following “a brief illness,” met Levy in 1972 while he was starring in Godspell. The pair later became close when she joined the Second City theater cast in New York, where Levy was already a performer.
O’Hara and Levy would go on to work together on many projects, including their Emmy-winning sitcom, Schitt’s Creek, where they played married duo Moira and Johnny Rose. While O’Hara confessed during a 2020 episode of Watch What Happens Live that she and Levy did explore a romantic connection off screen early in their relationship by going on a date, they ultimately remained platonic friends.
Keep scrolling to see O’Hara and Levy’s five-decade-long friendship:
March 2024
O’Hara was sure to share words of praise for Levy while he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, gushing that throughout the years he has provided “the wealth of original, thought-provoking, heartfelt, and ridiculously hilarious entertainment.”
“Eugene is a gentleman in every sense of the word,” she continued, noting that she wanted to talk about “the Eugene I love and think I know.”
O’Hara added, “Eugene takes his comedy very seriously. He’s obviously funny but he’s not afraid to laugh at himself; in fact, most of his self-effacing jokes are aimed at the fact that he thinks he’s not funny at all, which is ridiculous.” She went on to say that he’s “slow to anger” and “slow to judge” others. “He is patient, he is thoughtful, he is considerate,” she gushed.
“He carefully considers any new idea offered to him when he’s collaborating with others, and sometimes, once in a blue moon, you can shock him into laughing, but he’s usually so many steps ahead of you.”
O’Hara also said that she believes “every opportunity” she’s been presented with is “a direct result” of Schitt’s Creek. “Don’t tell him I owe him big time. It’s true.”
February 2021
In an interview with The Guardian, O’Hara and Levy shared that their Schitt’s Creek characters weren’t originally supposed to get along, but in rehearsals they couldn’t help but have chemistry.
“It’s always more fun working with someone you know,” O’Hara said. “I get too nervous doing solo bits – it’s too much pressure and it feels like showing off. With someone else, you can share the showing off.”
O’Hara went on to say that Levy is “ the sweetest man in the world.”
“I don’t want to set the poor man up – he’s human, of course. But he’s one of the good guys,” she said.
September 2020
At the 2020 Emmys, Levy took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. O’Hara also won Outstanding Lead Actress for her part in the show.
January 2020
The duo opened up about the first time they met while reminiscing on their 45-year-old relationship during an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
“I can tell you the year we met,” Levy said. “’72.”
O’Hara explained, “I was in high school. You were in Godspell. My brother was dating Gilda Radner, God bless her. And she got Robin Duke and me tickets to Godspell, and we got to hang out with you [and] the cast afterwards at the restaurant. It was the most thrilling thing.” O’Hara went on to say that Levy then “let” her get cast alongside him at Second City Theater, a comedy club in New York.
O’Hara went on to joke about the “giant afro” Levy had at the time.
December 2018
During an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, O’Hara shared that Levy helped her receive the Order of Canada, which recognizes people who have made extraordinary contributions to the country and humanity. (The achievement is similar to the U.S.’ Presidential Medal of Freedom.) “Eugene got it for me,” she said. “He nominated me and wrote a very lovely letter.”
Levy added that the honor was “well deserved” for O’Hara.
February 2015
O’Hara told The Hollywood Reporter that her relationship with Levy was thanks to “a fortunate circumstance.”
“I think a lot of it is a very fortunate circumstance, in a way, that we happen to end up teamed together,” she said.
When it comes to playing on-screen couples, the duo shared that it comes naturally to them.
“We’ve known each other for such a long time that it’s just a comfortable relationship,” Levy explained. “And when you’re doing comedy, number one, you do want to work with the best people. It’s hard when you’re not working with the best people, so the bottom line is you want really good people who are quite skilled at this particular kind of comedy.”
He added, “Quite honestly, it’s so much fun working with her, [but I also] know I’m working with the best person I could hire for the role.”
O’Hara also said that she doesn’t have to worry about an on-screen connection when acting with Levy because it comes naturally to them.
“We’ve known each other for so many years that consciously and subconsciously, we draw on what is there,” she shared. “What you feel and what you know about the person. So that really gives us a lot to work with.”
December 2014
When asked why Levy thought they worked so well together, he told Buzzfeed, “I think we both approach what we do in the same way. I’ve never considered myself a comedian, and yet I’ve spent my life in comedy.”
September 2006
For Your Consideration, which was a satire about Hollywood award season, premiered.
March 2003
The folk music mockumentary, A Mighty Wind, was released, showcasing O’Hara and Levy’s talents.
January 1997
Levy and O’Hara’s comedy Waiting for Guffman was released. The Mockumentary movie was mostly improvised.
July 1986
The duo starred alongside each other in Club Paradise, which was released in July 1986. They also worked together at Second City television where they performed sketch comedy.
1972
Levy met O’Hara after a showing of Godspell, which he was starring in. Following the show, the pair hung out at a restaurant with the rest of the cast.
