Catherine O'Hara: Studio Devastated! "A Hero Lost"

The world of comedy, and Hollywood in general, is a little dimmer today. Catherine O'Hara, known for her sharp wit and unforgettable characters, is being mourned by the cast and crew of "The Studio," the comedy series where she played the tough-as-nails studio chief, Patty Leigh. O’Hara’s performance in the show’s first season even snagged her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series last year. It's just awful news.

Catherine O'Hara: Studio Devastated! "A Hero Lost"

In a collective statement released earlier today, "The Studio" team expressed their profound grief. "We are at a loss for words at the passing of our friend Catherine O’Hara," they wrote. "She was a hero to all of us, and we pinched ourselves every day that we got to work with her on 'The Studio'. She was somehow classy, warm, and hilarious all at the same time. We’re unbelievably saddened she is gone and send our deepest sympathy to Bo and all her family.” It's a sentiment I think resonates with anyone who's ever watched her work.

Production on the show's second season had just begun this month, and right now, it's unclear if O'Hara was involved. The first season certainly left the door open for Patty Leigh to continue her reign at Continental Studios, so her absence will undoubtedly be felt, both on and off-screen.

Seth Rogen, who stars in "The Studio" as Matt Remick, shared his own heartfelt tribute. “Really don’t know what to say… I told O’Hara when I first met her I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen. 'Home Alone' was the movie that made me want to make movies. Getting to work with her was a true honour. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive, generous… she made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.” You can really feel the genuine respect and admiration he had for her.

Ike Barinholtz, who plays studio executive Sal Saperstein, echoed Rogen's sentiments. “I never in a million years thought I would get to work with Catherine O’Hara let alone become friends with her. So profoundly sad she’s somewhere else now. So incredibly grateful I got to spend the time I did with her. Thank you, Catherine. I love you.” The closeness of the cast really shines through in these messages, and it makes the loss even more poignant.

O’Hara’s character, Patty Leigh, was a font of dry wit and Hollywood cynicism, delivering some of the show's most memorable lines. Who could forget her negotiating an exclusive deal with Rogen’s Remnick right after being fired? Or her hilarious anecdote about Warren Beatty? That's classic O'Hara - making the absurd seem perfectly normal. "The Studio" was created by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg Frida Perez, Peter Huyck and Alex Gregory. It is produced by Lionsgate Television and Point Grey Pictures. Catherine O'Hara's legacy, however, will undoubtedly live on far beyond any studio lot.