Bryan Cranston has shared a heartfelt tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara, describing the acclaimed actress as "such a joy to be with" and expressing the profound sadness of her loss.
The Breaking Bad star reflected on their extensive collaborations, stating it was "just heartbreaking to lose her".
O’Hara, celebrated for her roles in Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, passed away on 30 January at the age of 71. Her death was attributed to a pulmonary embolism, following a cancer diagnosis.
Cranston and O’Hara worked together on numerous projects, including the action film Argylle and the comedy series 30 Rock, and appeared jointly on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live. Most recently, they co-starred in the Apple TV series The Studio, where Cranston played the eccentric billionaire Griffin Mill and O’Hara portrayed his rival, Patty Leigh.
Speaking on Variety’s Actors On Actors with Better Call Saul and Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn, Cranston lamented her passing. "Oh, we miss her so much," he said. "I played Catherine O’Hara’s husband in three different productions. And then she was my nemesis in The Studio. I miss her so much. She was such a joy to be with."
He continued: "Catherine O’Hara was a person who you not only marvelled at her comedic chops, but when it’s ‘cut’, you say ‘I want to sit next to Catherine’. It was just heartbreaking to lose her." Cranston had previously honoured O’Hara on Instagram after her death, calling her "a genius comedic actor and a beautiful human being" whom he "adored".
Tributes poured in for O’Hara, and she was posthumously recognised during this year’s awards season, receiving an award at the Actor Awards for her performance in The Studio. Her co-star Seth Rogen delivered an emotional tribute, remembering her as "one of the key parts" of the series when it secured the Bafta international award in May.
The Studio, set to air later this year, will also feature a guest appearance from pop icon Madonna, marking her return to acting after more than two decades. Cranston praised the singer’s professionalism, telling Seehorn: "Madonna’s great. I gotta say, her work ethic is really impressive."
He added: "The paparazzi were everywhere trying to get a picture of her. But, I was really impressed with how much she prepared. Because we didn’t know — it’s been a while since she acted. But she was terrific. And she’s very funny." Cranston concluded that filming the upcoming season was "a lot of fun", teasing appearances from Michael Keaton, Donald Glover, and Julia Garner.
