Comedian Joe Flaherty, a founding member of the beloved Canadian sketch series "SCTV," passed away at the age of 82. His daughter Gudrun shared on Tuesday that Flaherty died following a brief illness.
Flaherty, originally from Pittsburgh, made his mark at The Second City in Chicago for seven years before heading north to help set up the theater's Toronto outpost. He starred alongside John Candy and Catherine O'Hara in "SCTV," a show set in a fictional TV station packed with colorful characters. Flaherty's roles included the network boss Guy Caballero and the vampiric TV host Count Floyd.
His fellow castmates included Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, and Andrea Martin. Flaherty won Emmys in 1982 and 1983 for his writing on "SCTV" and continued to contribute to TV and film for decades.
Flaherty endeared himself to later generations with memorable roles, like a jeering heckler in the 1996 film "Happy Gilmore" and as an old-fashioned dad in the TV comedy "Freaks and Geeks."
Comedian Adam Sandler shared, "Oh man. Worshipped Joe growing up. Always had me and my brother laughing. Count Floyd, Guy Caballero. Any move he made." Sandler added, "He crushed as border guard in Stripes. Couldn't be more fun to have him heckle me on the golf course. The nicest guy you could know. Genius of a comedian. And a true sweetheart. Perfect combo. Much love to his kids and thanks to Joe for all the greatness he gave us all."
Flaherty remained connected to Toronto, serving as an artist-in-residence at Humber College. His daughter described him as an extraordinary man with a boundless heart and an unwavering passion for movies from the '40s and '50s. Cinema wasn't just a hobby for him; it profoundly influenced his career, especially his time on "SCTV." He cherished every moment on the show, proud of its success and his role in the incredible cast.
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