Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg honour Catherine O’Hara as 'utter genius' in acceptance speech at DGA

'Every day we worked very hard to make the show good enough to warrant her time and her presence,' said Rogen

At the 78th Annual Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards, Seth Rogen and his longtime creative partner Evan Goldberg paid a heartfelt tribute to their late The Studio co‑star Catherine O’Hara while accepting the award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for their Apple TV+ hit.

“We grew up in Canada, and she is and was quite literally our idol since we were children,” Goldberg said during the acceptance speech, acknowledging the enormous impact O’Hara had on both of them personally and professionally. Rogen added, “Honestly, there’s no one we wish we could thank in person at this moment more than we would love to thank Catherine O’Hara,” as the audience responded with applause.

Goldberg also highlighted the rare blend of talent and kindness that made O’Hara so beloved in the industry. “The best part of her is she showed that you can be an utter genius and also the nicest person in the entire world,” he said, noting that working with her every day on The Studio was a privilege. Rogen concluded by saying, “Every day we worked very hard to make the show good enough to warrant her time and her presence… but we would mostly like to thank Catherine O’Hara for being such a wonderful person.”

O’Hara, who passed away on January 30 at age 71 after a brief illness, played the unforgettable Patty Leigh on The Studio, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance. Her death deeply affected the cast and crew, prompting emotional tributes across Hollywood in the weeks leading up to the awards.

The Studio, co‑created by Rogen and Goldberg and widely praised for its sharp satire of Hollywood culture, has earned acclaim and multiple award recognitions, with this DGA win further cementing its status as one of the year’s standout television comedies.

The DGA ceremony was marked by both celebration and remembrance, with winners across categories honoring peers lost in the past year and highlighting the collaborative spirit of the industry.