Comedian Joe Flaherty, a co-pioneer of the beloved Canadian sketch series “SCTV,” has died after an illness. He was 82.
His daughter Gudrun announced his passing on Tuesday. She said her father had died after a brief illness.
Flaherty starred alongside John Candy and Catherine O’Hara in “SCTV,″ about a fictional TV station known as Second City Television that was stacked with buffoons in front of and behind the cameras. His characters included network boss Guy Caballero and the vampiric TV host Count Floyd.
He won Emmys in 1982 and 1983 for his writing on “SCTV” and continued to work in TV and film for decades.
He played a heckler in the 1996 film “Happy Gilmore” and an old fashioned dad in the TV comedy “Freaks and Geeks,” which ran from 1999 to 2000.
“Oh man. Worshipped Joe growing up,” comedian Adam Sandler said on X. “Always had me and my brother laughing. Count Floyd, Guy Caballero. Any move he made.”
“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 kept deep ties to Toronto, serving as an artist-in-residence at Humber College.
“Dad was an extraordinary man, known for his boundless heart and an unwavering passion for movies from the ‘40s and ‘50s,” his daughter wrote in Tuesday’s statement.
“Cinema wasn’t merely a hobby for him; it profoundly influenced his career, particularly his unforgettable time with ‘SCTV.’ He cherished every moment spent on the show, so proud of its success and so proud to be part of an amazing cast.”
