Seth Rogen Delivers Emotional Tribute to Catherine O'Hara at Actor Awards
Vancouver actor and filmmaker Seth Rogen delivered a deeply moving speech on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as he accepted an award on behalf of the late Canadian actress Catherine O'Hara at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards. The ceremony took place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, where Rogen stepped in to honor O'Hara's memory with poignant words and personal anecdotes.
A Sad Honor and Heartfelt Recognition
"I was asked to assume the very sad honour of accepting this award on O'Hara's behalf," Rogen told the audience. "I know she would have been honoured to receive this award from her fellow performers, whom I know she respected so much. She was such a big fan of all of yours." O'Hara posthumously won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her role in The Studio, beating out notable nominees including Kathryn Hahn, Jenna Ortega, Jean Smart, and Kristen Wiig.
Remembering a Canadian Icon
Catherine O'Hara, the Toronto-born actress, passed away on January 30, 2026, in Los Angeles due to a pulmonary embolism at the age of 71. Rogen reflected on his time working with her on the record-breaking series The Studio, highlighting her unique blend of generosity and talent. "Something that I've just been marvelling at over the last few weeks was really her ability to be generous and kind and gracious, while never minimizing her own talents," he said. "And her own ability to contribute to the work that we were doing. She knew she could destroy. And she wanted to destroy every day on set."
Personal Anecdotes and Professional Brilliance
Rogen shared a touching story that illustrated O'Hara's dedication to her craft. "I haven't said this to the other actors because I didn't want them to get ideas, but pretty much every evening before she had a shooting day on our show, she would email me and Evan Goldberg, The Studio co-creator, an email that always was pretty similar," he recalled. "And it said, 'Hello! I hope you'll consider the following.' And then there would be a completely rewritten version of the scene she was in."
He continued, amid laughter from the crowd, "And literally 100 per cent of the time, it made not just her character better, but it made the scene better. And the entire show better, as a whole. She really showed that you can be a genius and be kind, and one of those things does not have to come at the expense of the other in any way, shape or form."
A Call to Celebrate Her Legacy
In closing his speech, Rogen urged everyone to revisit O'Hara's iconic work. "If there are kids in your lives, or just people who are out of touch or stupid or something, just show them O'Hara dancing to Harry Belafonte in Beetlejuice, show them O'Hara hurting her knee in Best in Show and doing that amazing thing where she hobbles around," he said. "And tell the people, as they are laughing, that that's Catherine O'Hara. And we were lucky to get to live in a world where she so generously shared her talents with us."
Rogen's Own Success at the Awards
The evening was also a personal triumph for Seth Rogen, who won the award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for The Studio, as well as the award for Best Comedy Series Ensemble. The Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, are voted on by active SAG-AFTRA members, making the recognition from peers particularly meaningful. Rogen's dual wins and heartfelt tribute underscored the impact of O'Hara's legacy on the entertainment industry and those who worked alongside her.
