Joe Flaherty, the two-time Emmy-successful actor finest regarded for his work in comedies which include Canadian sketch comedy clearly show “SCTV,” died on Monday soon after a short sickness. He was 82.
Flaherty’s daughter, Gudrun, confirmed his demise on Tuesday to the Linked Push.
The comic, actor and author was also regarded for his purpose as Lindsay and Sam’s beloved dad, Harold Weir, on “Freaks and Geeks.” He also performed a heckler to Adam Sandler’s titular character in “Happy Gilmore.” Flaherty’s most long lasting contribution to comedy, even though, was as a result of his get the job done with the Second Town.
Flaherty started his comedy career at Next City’s Chicago spot, where by he wrote and executed in several revues around 7 several years. In individuals performances, he starred alongside Brian Doyle-Murray, Harold Ramis and John Belushi. Flaherty afterwards moved to Toronto to assistance acquire a new Next City spot.
While he was in Canada, Flaherty also starred in and wrote for “SCTV,” performing with comedic legends John Sweet, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Small. He was nominated for nine Primetime Emmy Awards for his producing on the display, winning two times in 1982 and 1983. His do the job on the sequence is regarded very to this day, from his impressions of Richard Nixon and Gregory Peck, to his primary characters Major Jim McBob, Person Caballero and Rely Floyd.
Flaherty continued perform in movie and television extensive soon after his time on “SCTV,” showing in “Back to the Foreseeable future II,” “One Ridiculous Summer months,” “National Protection,” “Family Dude,” “The King of Queens” and a lot more.
“Dad was an remarkable guy, recognised for his boundless heart and an unwavering passion for films from the ’40s and ’50s,” his daughter wrote in Tuesday’s assertion, according to AP. “Cinema was not just a passion for him it profoundly motivated his job, notably his unforgettable time with ‘SCTV.’ He cherished each individual second spent on the demonstrate, so very pleased of its accomplishment and so happy to be element of an wonderful forged.”
Flaherty’s former castmates and collaborators, which include Adam Sandler and Martin Brief, shared tributes to the actor. Sandler wrote on Instagram Tuesday morning that he “worshiped” Flaherty increasing up and that it “couldn’t be far more pleasurable to have him heckle me on the golfing system,” referring to their notorious scene collectively in “Happy Gilmore.”
“The nicest man you could know. Genius of a comedian. And a real sweetheart. Best combo,” Sandler’s publish continued. “Much really like to his little ones and many thanks to Joe for all the greatness he gave us all.
“Freaks and Geeks” creator Paul Feig also shared a tribute on X, writing that he was “so sad to hear about pricey Joe.”
“He was my Tv set dad and a genuine comedy hero,” his post continued. “Always joyful to tell any tale about your preferred ‘SCTV’ sketch, he was just the biggest dude. I will definitely miss him and usually be grateful to have acknowledged him. Relaxation in comedy, Joe.”
Small, who was concerned in a fundraiser to go over some of Flaherty’s medical expenditures prior to his dying, reported in a assertion to The Instances that the actor was the “anchor” of “SCTV.”
“In about 50 years of our friendship, there have been quite handful of people today as intelligent or hilarious when it came to comedy, educating improvisation and the artwork of character get the job done as Joe,” the statement reported. “In ‘SCTV,’ we known as him the anchor. In life, he was just the funniest man in the home. I just adored him.”
Short labored with the Comedic Artists Alliance, an firm committed to fiscally encouraging comedy creators heading via issues, like disease, to aid Flaherty and his daughter, who was his caretaker.
It is not the to start with time “SCTV” solid and crew associates have banded with each other to aid their friends. In 2008, Flaherty and co-stars Short, O’Hara, Andrea Martin and Eugene Levy reunited on stage for the first time in 24 several years to raise revenue for a former member of the “SCTV” manufacturing employees who was unwell and experienced hefty health care bills.
