(DailyDig.com) – Comedian and actor Joe Flaherty, known for his participation in “SCTV,” a TV series of sketch comedies, died on April 2 at 82 years of age.
Gudrun Flaherty, his daughter, announced that his death happened after he had been ill briefly. In her statement, she remembered his unwavering and boundless passion for the golden age of movies between 1940 and 1950. They shaped his career, and she was fascinated with watching them with him, especially during his failing health, according to her statement.
Flaherty was born in Pittsburgh and began his acting career on “SCTV” along with fellow stars Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, and Martin Short. He not only performed in the comedy sketches; he also wrote for the show. In its 1976–1984 airing, “SCTV” was nominated nine times for outstanding writing for music or variety shows at the Primetime Emmy Awards. The show won two Emmys, in 1982 and 1983.
Some of his most famous characters from “SCTV” include the host of “Monster Chiller Horror Theatre,” Count Floyd; the “Melonville Nightly News” anchor, Floyd Robertson; and the “Farm Report” host, McBob.
In the “Maniac Mansion” sitcom from 1990 to 1993, Flaherty wrote for the show and played a father who was a scientist, Fred Edison. It was written by Eugene Levy, one of his fellow actors from “SCTV.” From 1999 to 2000, he was in a series on NBC called “Freaks and Geeks” as Harold Weir. Harold was a sports store owner with two teenagers.
Some of Flaherty’s movie credits consist of the 1976 film “Tunnel Vision,” 1979’s “1941,” 1981’s “Stripes,” and 1987’s “Innerspace.” In 1989, Flaherty was briefly seen in “Back to the Future Part II,” and in 1996, he was a heckler of the Adam Sandler character in “Happy Gilmore.”
Martin Short spoke to the media after the news was released about Flaherty’s death. Short spoke of their fifty-year friendship and his belief that Joe was one of the most hilarious people in comedy.
Survivors include his brother Paul and his children, Gudrun and Gabriel.
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