Catherine O'Hara’s Role in The Last of Us and Legacy

Catherine O'Hara portrayed Gail, Joel’s therapist, in The Last of Us Season 2—a character created specifically for the television adaptation. She was slated to reprise the role in Season 3 prior to her passing.

A Memorable Supporting Performance

Though Gail appeared in relatively few scenes during Season 2, her screen time left a lasting impression—largely due to O'Hara’s exceptional, nuanced performance. As co-creator Craig Mazin stated on the Scriptnotes podcast (via GamesRadar): I don’t think it’s a big spoiler to say that she was gonna be in our show again, because of course she was. She’s so good. But she was stolen from all of us. The thing that’s upsetting me is I don’t get to see her in other stuff. I don’t care about my show. I wanted to see her in other things, cause what else was gonna happen?

Passing and Tributes

O'Hara died on January 30 at age 71. Her death resulted from a pulmonary embolism, with cancer cited as the underlying cause. Pedro Pascal, who stars as Joel, expressed profound grief: There is less light in my world. This lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. He described himself as “eternally grateful” for her presence on the series.

Enduring Career and Accolades

Over a decades-long career, O'Hara earned widespread acclaim across film and television—including multiple Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. She was beloved for her groundbreaking work on the sketch comedy series SCTV, the critically acclaimed sitcom Schitt’s Creek, and iconic films such as Home Alone and Beetlejuice.

The Last of Us Season 3 and Beyond

Season 3 will pivot to center Abby’s story, with actor Kaitlyn Dever confirming her excitement over having a “much bigger” role in the upcoming season.

HBO has indicated that Season 3 could serve as the final season of the series, though no official confirmation has been released.

Regarding the game franchise, rumors persist about The Last of Us Part III being in early development at Naughty Dog—however, this remains unconfirmed. The studio is currently focused on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, with speculation that it may debut during an upcoming PlayStation State of Play presentation.