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Catherine O'Hara's Brief SNL Stint and Tributes
2 Feb
Summary
- O'Hara left SNL after one week to rejoin SCTV.
- She later hosted Saturday Night Live twice.
- Tributes poured in after her death at 71.
Catherine O'Hara, a celebrated actress and comedian, once briefly departed Saturday Night Live to reunite with her SCTV colleagues. This decision, made in the early 1980s when SCTV's airing schedule was intermittent, saw O'Hara leave SNL without filming any live episodes.
Despite this early departure, O'Hara later returned to host Saturday Night Live on two occasions: in April 1991 and again on Halloween night in 1992. Her contributions to comedy were widely recognized.
News of O'Hara's passing at 71, following a brief illness, was confirmed by her agency. Tributes from fans and former co-stars, including Martin Short who recalled their early days in improv, quickly emerged.
Her agency stated she died at her Los Angeles home after a brief hospitalization. Paramedics were called to her residence on Friday morning, January 30, 2026, and she was transported in serious condition. An official cause of death has not yet been released.
