Sketch comedy has lost one of the all-time greats with the sad passing of legendary comedian Joe Flaherty at 82 years old. He is\ most well-known for his time with Second City and Freaks and Geeks.
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Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Joe O’Flaherty first got involved with theater after serving four years in the US Air Force. After moving to Chicago, he quickly got involved with the Second City Theater and appeared on the National Lampoon Radio Hour. Soon, he moved to Toronto to establish a second theater in Canada.
Flaherty soon had his breakthrough with the iconic sketch show Second City Television, AKA SCTV. He appeared on the series for eight years, playing memorable characters like Big Jim McBob, Count Floyd/Floyd Robertson, and station owner Guy Caballero, performing opposite John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Rick Moranis, David Thomas, Andrea Martin, and Harold Ramis. He received nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Writing for a Variety Series, winning twice.
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Flaherty would continue to have a lengthy career after SCTV, appearing in classic films like 1941 (1979), Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985), Back To The Future Part II (1989), and Slackers (1990). His most memorable performances include the man who heckles Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore (1996) and Harold Weir, the father to Linda Cardellini and John Francis Daley, in Freaks and Geeks.
Flaherty also starred in numerous Disney projects, including Dinosaurs, Even Stevens, Home on the Range (2004) as Jeb the Goat, The Legend of Tarzan as Hooft, and Teamo Supremo as Cloaked Skull.
Friends and Fans Remember Joe Flaherty
No one could have played the role of Donald like Joe Flaherty did. His comedic delivery was perfect and his role alone made Happy Gilmore the classic it is today. He will be missed. Rest easy Joe pic.twitter.com/npdVOjQFpp
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) April 2, 2024
After the news of his passing, countless fans and colleagues have paid tribute to the beloved actor across social media. This includes Jennifer Tilly, who starred as his daughter in The Wrong Guy (1997).
“Joe Flaherty played my dad in The Wrong Guy. I was so thrilled to be able to work with him. His performance was pitch perfect. A great comedian. Gone too soon.”
Christopher McDonald, who played Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore, thanked Flaherty for his brilliance in the film:
“No one could have played the role of Donald like Joe Flaherty did. His comedic delivery was perfect and his role alone made Happy Gilmore the classic it is today. He will be missed. Rest easy, Joe.”
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“Joe Flaherty made me crack up so hard it ruined takes. My favorite days on set were the ones where we had scenes together. What a lovely guy.”
What was your favorite Joe Flaherty performance?
This post Legendary Comedian and Disney Star Dies at 82 appeared first on Inside the Magic.
