Dan Levy recently opened up about the true creative force behind Moira Rose on the hit show Schitt’s Creek. During a conversation on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, Levy shared how the late Catherine O’Hara did much more than just show up and say her lines. He described her as an “irreplaceable talent” who completely reshaped the show from behind the scenes.
Levy explained that while he wrote the scripts, O’Hara often took control of her character in a way that left him in awe. The sitcom, which ran from 2015 to 2020, became a global phenomenon, winning nine Emmy Awards. But according to Levy, the magic of Moira Rose belonged almost entirely to Catherine.
The Late-Night Emails That Changed Everything
Levy recalled a specific habit of O’Hara that completely changed how scenes were shot. The night before filming, she would send an email to the team. It always began the same way: “Gentlemen, some thoughts about the scenes we’re shooting tomorrow.”
Levy said that inside those emails were complete rewrites of the next day’s script. He described them as a “full top-to-tail rewrite.” He noted that actor Seth Rogen had mentioned getting similar emails when he worked with her. Hearing that confirmed for Levy that this was simply how O’Hara worked.
“The way that she thinks is so on another level that as a writer, you can’t get into her head,” Levy said. He explained that as the creator, his job was just to “set the table” and then wait for her email. When it arrived, he would read her version of the scene and simply say, “F*** yeah.”
Why Moira Rose Was Truly Catherine O’Hara
Levy was clear that the character fans fell in love with was not just a product of the writing room. “So much of Moira Rose was Catherine,” he stated directly. He explained that O’Hara did not simply read lines. She invented the character’s strange accent, her specific way of walking, and her habit of using rare, old-fashioned words.
For Levy, watching her work was a masterclass in comedy. He admitted that she often made him break character while filming. He would start laughing when he was supposed to be serious. Instead of cutting those moments out, Levy left them in the final episodes. He liked the idea that the characters on screen were laughing right along with the audience.
“She would never do the same take twice,” Levy remembered. He said this kept every actor on set excited because they never knew what was coming next. “It was her curiosity, but it was also a tremendous generosity on her part,” he added.
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A Difficult Return to Schitt’s Creek
Catherine O’Hara passed away on January 30 at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 71. Her death was a major loss for Hollywood, but it hit the Schitt’s Creek family especially hard.
Recently, Levy returned to Goodwood, Ontario—the town where the show was filmed. It was his first visit since the show ended in 2020. Speaking with CBS Sunday Morning, he became emotional standing on the familiar streets.
“It’s tough. It’s tough being back,” Levy said, choking back tears. “I didn’t think that I’d have quite an emotional reaction. Just a lot of memories. A lot of memories with Catherine.”
When asked about the possibility of a reunion or a sequel series, Levy shut the idea down completely. He admitted he had been “thinking about it” before she passed away. But now, he says it simply “can’t” be done. “No, not now,” he stated firmly. “You can’t.”
“She is impossible not to watch. And she’s impossible not to love and she’s, it’s impossible not to laugh with her in anything she does.” — Dan Levy
Keeping the Memories Alive
Levy shared that even now, he cannot scroll past clips of the show on social media. Whenever he sees Moira Rose pop up on Instagram, he has to stop and watch. “I’m watching not for anything that I did, but I’m watching because she is impossible not to watch,” he explained.
He recalled the 2020 Emmy Awards, where O’Hara won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Her performance as the eccentric, wig-wearing matriarch is widely considered one of the greatest in TV history. For Levy, working with her was the “honor of my life.”
Schitt’s Creek is available to stream on Netflix and other platforms, allowing new audiences to discover O’Hara’s genius.
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