Catherine O'hara Wins Actor Award Posthumously at SAG-AFTRA, Seth Rogen Accepts to Huge Standing Ovation
catherine o'hara was posthumously honored Sunday at SAG-AFTRA’s Actor Awards, taking home the prize for outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series for the series "The Studio. " The win, paired with an ensemble award for the show's cast, was marked by a standing ovation as Seth Rogen accepted on her behalf and delivered a heartfelt tribute that highlighted her generosity, craft and lasting impact.
Catherine O'hara's Award Wins and Nominations
The ceremony recognized O'hara with the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series for her portrayal of former studio chief-turned-producer Patty Leigh on "The Studio. " The series' ensemble also won in the outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series category. O'hara had been nominated for the role and had additionally received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her work on the series. Earlier in her career she previously won Actor Awards in 2021 for actress in a comedy series and as part of a comedy series ensemble for "Schitt's Creek. "
Seth Rogen's Tribute and the Standing Ovation
Seth Rogen walked onstage to accept the award for O'hara and received a standing ovation for the posthumous honor. In his remarks he painted a portrait of a performer who combined fierce talent with deep kindness, recounting that O'hara routinely rewrote scenes to improve them and that those rewrites made scenes and the show better 100% of the time. He emphasized that she was generous and gracious while never minimizing her own talents, noting she "knew she could destroy" and wanted to do so every day on set.
Behind-the-Scenes Details Shared in Tribute
Rogen described a recurring pre-shoot ritual in which O'hara would email him and Evan Goldberg with rewritten versions of her scenes under the heading "Hello, I hope you'll consider the following, " and that those contributions elevated not only her character but the entire production. He framed her approach as evidence that genius and kindness can coexist without diminishing either trait.
Cast Reactions and Onstage Moments
During the tribute, the camera captured visible emotion from cast members. Jenna Ortega appeared teary-eyed; she had worked with the late actress on Tim Burton’s "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. " Kathryn Hahn was also visibly emotional upon hearing O'hara's name. Rogen closed his remarks by urging people to share moments that capture O'hara's breadth—suggesting scenes of her dancing to Harry Belafonte in "Beetlejuice, " or her physical comic turn in "Best in Show"—as ways to introduce her work to others and to celebrate the world that benefited from her talent.
Nominees and Competition in the Category
O'hara's nomination in the outstanding female actor category placed her alongside several noted performers: Kathryn Hahn for her role as Maya Mason on "The Studio, " Jenna Ortega (listed with her role as Wednesday Addams on "Wednesday"), Jean Smart (Deborah Vance on "Hacks") and Kristen Wiig (Maxine Simmons on "Palm Royale"). The ensemble recognition acknowledged the collective contribution of the series' cast.
