Joe Flaherty, the actor, author and comic identified for his roles on the Canadian sketch comedy collection “Second Metropolis Tv” and “Freaks and Geeks,” died on Monday. He was 82.
Flaherty’s daughter, Gudrun, confirmed the information to Selection in an announcement by the Comedic Artists Alliance, which had beforehand raised funds for Flaherty to acquire a 24-hour care supplier.
“After a quick sickness, he left us yesterday, and since then, I’ve been struggling to return to phrases with this immense loss,” Gudrun stated. “Dad was a unprecedented man, identified for his boundless coronary heart and an unwavering ardour for films from the ’40s and ’50s. His insights into the golden age of cinema didn’t simply form his skilled life; they had been additionally a supply of limitless fascination for me. In these previous few months, as he confronted his well being challenges, we had the valuable alternative to observe lots of these basic films collectively — moments I’ll perpetually maintain pricey.”
Flaherty was a author and performer on “SCTV,” by which he starred with John Sweet, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Brief. The Canadian present, airing between 1976 and 1984, featured numerous sketches that had been offered as programming on the TV station/community of the fictional city of Melonville. Flaherty was identified for his superstar impressions on “SCTV,” together with Kirk Douglas, Richard Nixon, Artwork Garfunkel, Gregory Peck and Alan Alda. He additionally appeared on the present as a myriad of authentic characters, together with SCTV president Man Caballero, Large Jim McBob and Rely Floyd. “SCTV” was nominated for 9 Primetime Emmy Awards for excellent writing in a spread or music program, and took house two.
Brief paid tribute to Flaherty in an announcement to Selection, saying: “In over 50 years of our friendship, there have been only a few folks as sensible or hilarious when it got here to comedy, educating improvisation and the artwork of character work as Joe. In ‘SCTV’ we known as him the anchor. In life, he was merely the funniest man within the room. I simply adored him.”
Flaherty was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 21, 1941. He began out acting at The Second Metropolis in Chicago, writing and performing in a number of Mainstage revues. He starred in “The Subsequent Era,” “Justice is Completed or Oh, Cal Coolidge” and “Cooler Close to the Lake” with Brian Doyle-Murray and Harold Ramis. He additionally acted alongside John Belushi in “Cum Grano Salis,” “No, No, Wilmette” and “43rd Parallel or Mr. McCabre and Ms. Miller.” Flaherty subsequently appeared on “Nationwide Lampoon Radio Hour” with Belushi, Invoice Murray, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Doyle-Murray and Ramis. After spending seven years in Chicago, Flaherty relocated to Toronto, the place he helped set up the Second Metropolis Toronto and labored on “SCTV.”
Flaherty appeared in a number of different tv reveals and movies all through his profession, with a few of these credit together with “Again to the Future II,” “Pleased Gilmore,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “One Loopy Summer season,” “Nationwide Safety,” “Detroit Rock Metropolis,” “Household Man” and “The King of Queens.” He portrayed patriarch Harold Weir in “Freaks and Geeks,” a heckler named Donald in “Pleased Gilmore” and the Western Union courier in “Again to the Future II.”
Flaherty was sick previous to his dying and selected to spend the rest of his life at house as an alternative of a care facility. His “SCTV” collaborators took to social media to assist increase funds for Flaherty by the Comedic Artists Alliance.
Gudrun’s assertion continued, “Cinema wasn’t merely a pastime for him; it profoundly influenced his profession, notably his unforgettable time with ‘SCTV.’ He cherished each second spent on the present, so happy with its success and so proud to be a part of a tremendous solid. Just lately, the ‘SCTV’ solid reminisced, saying, ‘All of us “SCTV” castmates owe him an enormous debt of gratitude; he was the inventive anchor that stored us trustworthy and impressed.’ It’s a testomony to his indelible mark on everybody he labored with.
Above all, he was a loving father. Regardless of the event, he was at all times there to supply amusing or knowledge once I wanted it most. His absence has left a void in my life that feels insurmountable in the meanwhile. As I attempt to navigate by this grieving course of, I take solace within the recollections we shared and the unimaginable impression he had on these round him. His spirit, humor and love will likely be part of me perpetually. My dad was a form, candy soul who blessed all who knew him and people who liked his work. Thanks to everybody who cared for him; he liked that he was in a position to make folks snort. He will likely be so deeply missed, however we’re eternally grateful to God for him being in our lives.”
