(February 9, 2016 – Toronto, ON) Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara have been named recipients of the prestigious Academy Legacy Award, given for unflagging dedication in bringing international acclaim to Canadian talent in film, television or digital media, it was announced by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.
“With decades of brilliant work behind them and many more to come, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara stand among the world’s finest comic actors,” said Academy Chair Martin Katz. “Though they are not an official duo, they have played together so often and so well, that we thought it only fitting to honour them together.”
The Academy Legacy Award, a Canadian Screen Award, will be presented at An Evening with Canada’s Stars, the annual red carpet event during awards season in Los Angeles to celebrate excellence in Canadian film, television & digital media. Co-hosted by the Academy, Telefilm Canada and the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles, the 2016 An Evening with Canada’s Stars will be at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on February 25.
Catherine O’Hara is a prolific, multi-award winning actress, writer, and comedian whose film credits include lead and supporting roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, After Hours, Heartburn, The Life Before This, Penelope, Away We Go, Where the Wild Things Are, A.C.O.D., The Right Kind of Wrong, and many more. She has collaborated with Christopher Guest and co-writer Eugene Levy four times on the critically acclaimed mockumentary films Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. Her performance in the latter won her the 2007 National Board of Review Award for Supporting Actress. O’Hara has just finished wrapping season two of the hit CBC series Schitt’s Creek alongside Eugene Levy, Dan Levy, and Chris Elliott.
Eugene Levy has appeared in more than 60 motion pictures to date, seven of which having topped the $100M mark. His box-office success in films like Bringing Down the House, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, and Father of the Bride Part II have established him as one of Hollywood’s most popular comedic actors. But it was the role of Jim’s Dad in the American Pie franchise that cemented his reputation as America’s favourite dad. His next major film role is the voice of Dory’s Dad in the Disney Pixar feature Finding Dory with Ellen DeGeneres.
In 2013, Levy formed Not A Real Company Productions (with his son Daniel Levy and principals Andrew Barnsley and Fred Levy) to produce Schitt’s Creek, a television series for CBC/ITV he co-created, co-executive produces, and co-stars in with Daniel Levy. The single-camera, character-driven comedy also stars Catherine O’Hara and Chris Elliott.
