Westminster Dog Show Pays Tribute to One of Catherine O'Hara's Most Iconic Roles
Younger audiences may have been introduced to the late Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek, while older ones likely knew her from Beetlejuice or Home Alone. But it's her kooky roles in Christopher Guest's mockumentaries that perhaps best define her career and comedic talents. And one such role earned her a posthumous honor in an unlikely place this week: the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Best in Show Honored at Dog Show
O'Hara, of course, played the formerly promiscuous Norwich terrier owner Cookie Fleck in Guest's 2000 comedy Best in Show, appearing opposite her lifelong friend and collaborator Eugene Levy. O'Hara's performance remains one of the best-loved of her career, with her character's physical comedy and kooky personality playing a central role in the film. She (SPOILER ALERT) goes on to win Best in Show alongside her dog, Winky.
The real Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show decided to pay tribute to the late actress and the film during the showing of the Norwich terrier at Tuesday's event. On the screen above the arena appeared O'Hara's name and the phrase "a true legend, timeless talent, and icon."
omg they did a tribute to catherine o'hara while showing the norwich terrier at the westminster dog show
— véro // ✽ (@vlovesemma) February 4, 2026
HER IMPACT !! pic.twitter.com/pJcsHCxeYD
Some fans were there specifically to pay tribute to O'Hara, The New York Times reported. Others simply had her legacy—and the iconic film—in mind.
“The first time I watched it, I was highly insulted,” Best in Show judge David Fitzpatrick, told The New York Times. “I was like, ‘This is just awful, these people making fun of us.’ Then I watched it again and I started thinking, ‘Oh my God, they really have some of us pegged.’”
Ultimately, the Norwich terrier did not end up winning the day. That honor belonged to Penny, the Doberman Pinscher who was the fifth of her breed to take Best in Show in the 150-year history of the competition.
Best in Show at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show goes to "Penny" the Doberman Pinscher! ???????? pic.twitter.com/Ui66SyvL8B
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 4, 2026
O'Hara's Christopher Guest Roles Are Revered
Best in Show is the most popular and successful of Guest's mockumentary comedies, earning over $20 million on a $10 million budget and continuing to be named amongst the best comedies of the 21st century. The film also stars JenniferCoolidge, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, and Parker Posey.
O'Hara also appeared in Guest's comedies Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. She passed away suddenly on Friday, Jan. 30 after a brief illness, inspiring an outpouring of tributes across Hollywood and beyond.