The entertainment world lost a comedy giant earlier this year, and now the team behind one of television’s biggest shows is figuring out how to move forward. Catherine O’Hara, the beloved actress known for Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone, passed away on January 30, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 71. She was a key part of Apple TV+ ‘s hit series The Studio, and her absence has left a significant hole in the upcoming second season.
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the creators and showrunners of the award-winning comedy, recently opened up about the difficult process of continuing the show without her. They made it very clear that they will not pretend nothing happened. Instead, Season 2 will directly deal with the loss of her character, Patty Leigh.
A Sudden and Difficult Change for the Production
The timing of O’Hara’s passing was especially hard for the production team. According to interviews with The Times of London, the scripts for Season 2 were already finished. They were specifically written with O’Hara’s character playing a major role in the story. When she passed away just as filming was about to start in mid-January, Rogen and his team had to go back to the drawing board quickly.
Goldberg explained just how much this changed things for the crew. He described the experience as an “unbelievable challenge,” not just because of the personal sadness, but also because of the effect on the show’s story.
“We wrote it for her to be there. We had it all set and the shock waves permeate throughout the entire new season. It’s been difficult. She was the anchor and now the anchor is gone.”
How the Show Will Handle the Loss on Screen
So, how will The Studio Season 2 look different? Rogen confirmed that the writers are not simply removing her character without explanation. Instead, they are using the sadness and confusion of losing a central figure as part of the plot.
Rogen told the publication that the new season will acknowledge that the world of the show feels “anchorless” without her. While The Studio is a comedy that makes fun of Hollywood, Rogen said that heavier, more serious themes will be present this time because they reflect real life.
“If anything, we’re acknowledging the idea that we are a little anchorless,” Rogen said. “But, honestly, that is a part of life and what we all experience. And so while we try to not dwell too much on heavy themes in this show, they will be there in this second season. We are not ignoring it.”
This choice allows the show to honor O’Hara’s memory by dealing with the reality of her absence rather than using a quick fix or replacing the actor.
Honoring a Legacy On and Off Screen
O’Hara’s role in The Studio was a major highlight of the show’s first season. She played Patty Leigh, a sharp and experienced movie executive who acted as a mentor to Rogen’s character, Matt Remick. Her performance was loved by critics and audiences alike, earning her an Emmy nomination in 2025 and a Golden Globe nomination in 2026 for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Just weeks after her passing, she won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2026 Actor Awards. Seth Rogen took the stage to accept the award on her behalf, giving a touching speech about who she was as a person.
“I was asked to assume the sad honor of accepting this award on Catherine O’Hara’s behalf,” Rogen told the crowd. “I know she would have been honored to receive this award from her fellow performers who I know she respected so much. She was such a big fan of all of yours.”
A Career That Spanned Generations
Catherine O’Hara was a titan of comedy for five decades. For many, she is the chaotic and creative Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, a role that won her an Emmy in 2020. For others, she is the unforgettable mother in Home Alone, the film that Rogen himself said made him want to get into movies. Her filmography also includes classics like Beetlejuice, Best in Show, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Her death was ruled as a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as an underlying cause. The news sent shockwaves through Hollywood, with many co-stars and friends sharing their grief publicly.
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What to Expect from The Studio Season 2
Even with this heavy loss, production on Season 2 is moving forward. Filming began in January and has continued in various locations, including recently at the Venice Film Festival. While there is no official release date for the general public yet, the season is currently in post-production.
Despite the sadness, Rogen has tried to focus on the joy of working with O’Hara. He shared a story about how she would often rewrite her own scenes to make them funnier.
“‘Hello, I hope you’ll consider the following,’ and then there would be a completely rewritten version of the scene,” Rogen recalled in a previous speech. “Literally 100% of the time, it made not just her character better, but it made the scene better and the entire show better as a whole.”
The Studio Season 2 will likely arrive later in 2026. For now, fans can expect a season that balances its sharp Hollywood satire with a real and honest tribute to an actress who could not be replaced.
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