Michael Keaton honored his late Beetlejuice co-star Catherine O’Hara, highlighting their decades-long friendship rooted in similar family backgrounds. Speaking at Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals 2026 Man of the Year event on February 6, Keaton reflected on how their personal connection began and endured over the years, sharing memories of their time together.
Keaton, known for his role in The Batman, recounted how both he and O’Hara grew up in large families, with each having seven siblings, which helped forge their friendship.
“I was a big SCTV fan. I am the biggest SCTV fan. And I’m trying to think, when was it? I think I was doing a movie in Toronto. I remember we must have met or known each other a little bit, because, like myself, she has a big family. She’s one of seven, and I’m one of seven. And so somehow we got to be friends,”
he said.
The actor also recalled a night spent in Toronto with O’Hara and her siblings playing pool in a bar, a moment that stood out despite his struggle to pinpoint exactly when they first met.
“I remember a night in Toronto where she had a summer [with her] brothers and sisters, and we were all shooting pool in some bar somewhere. But I think I had known her before, kind of having a hard time remembering it,”
Keaton added.
Keaton expressed deep admiration for O’Hara, calling her a “goddess” in comedy and sharing that many in the entertainment industry recognized her exceptional talent and brilliance as she rose to fame. He shared a story about suggesting her for a role in the film Game 6, which he described as a “really good little movie” set in Boston, further underscoring their professional collaboration and friendship.
“And I was doing this tiny little movie called Game 6, which is actually a really good little movie. It takes place in Boston, and Griffin [Dunne] and I were talking, and they hadn’t cast it [yet]. I said, ‘Hey, how [about] Catherine O’Hara as my ex-wife? Yeah, you think she’d do it?’ So I called her, and she came down,”
Keaton said.
Although Keaton could not recall the exact moment they first met, he emphasized the strength of their enduring bond beyond their work on Beetlejuice.
“I guess that was after the first Beetlejuice. But I knew her before that. And to answer your question, I don’t remember what the first time was when I met her, but we got to be friends in addition to just working together as well,”
he concluded.
Honoring Catherine O’Hara’s Legacy After Her Passing
Catherine O’Hara died at the age of 71 in late January, with the cause of death yet to be confirmed. Known for her role in Home Alone, O’Hara had previously disclosed that she lived with dextrocardia, a rare congenital heart condition in which the heart and some internal organs are reversed.
Shortly after her passing, Michael Keaton paid tribute to her on Instagram, sharing a photo of them together and reflecting on their long-standing relationship.
“We go back before the first Beetlejuice. She’s been my pretend wife, my pretend nemesis and my real life, true friend. This one hurts. Man am I gonna miss her. Thinking about Beau as well,”
he wrote.
Keaton further honored O’Hara in a heartfelt piece for TIME magazine published on February 5. He described his experience working with her over nearly four decades, including their time on both Beetlejuice films, The Paper, and Game 6.
“With almost anyone else, I’d have forgotten it within seconds. But with her? It wasn’t about the joke landing. It was because I liked her so damn much. To work comedically with Catherine, as I was lucky to get to do not just at the awards show but on two Beetlejuice movies and projects like The Paper and Game 6 across nearly 40 years, was like breathing rarefied air. And between takes, it was the greatest hang on set. The only thing better was the hang off set—in real life, as I call it,”
Keaton reflected.
He went on to express the special value of their friendship, saying,
“To have a woman as your friend is a great thing. To have a brilliantly funny woman as your friend is special. To have Catherine O’Hara as your friend is a blessing.”
The Enduring Impact of Their Friendship and Collaboration
Michael Keaton’s reflections on his relationship with Catherine O’Hara highlight not only their professional chemistry but also a genuine personal connection that spanned decades. Their similar family backgrounds, mutual respect, and repeated collaborations cemented a bond that outlasted their film projects.
O’Hara’s passing marks the loss of a beloved figure in comedy and acting, whose talent was widely admired by peers including Keaton. His tribute underscores the rarity of such friendships in the entertainment industry and the profound effect shared history and mutual appreciation can have.
Looking ahead, the memories and stories Keaton shared will help preserve Catherine O’Hara’s legacy, emphasizing the enduring power of friendship forged through art and life over many years.
