‘SCTV’ star Joe Flaherty dies following illness, family says

Friends and colleagues are remembering comedian Joe Flaherty as a founding father of the modern Canadian comedy scene — despite his American roots.

Flaherty’s daughter says he died Monday at age 82.

My very first legit/paid acting job was on "Maniac Mansion" and it is impossible to relay how excited/stunned/thrilled I was to be doing the scene WITH Joe Flaherty. #legend He was so cool, joked around, made me feel totally welcome. Was he great…?
Hugh Betcha.#RIPJoeFlaherty pic.twitter.com/Z97J0mZhpc

— Brent Butt (@BrentButt) April 2, 2024

I was incredibly fortunate to have worked with Joe Flaherty a few times. A sweet man that produced a lot of laughs. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

— Colin Mochrie (@colinmochrie) April 2, 2024

The actor and writer was born in Pittsburgh, and moved to Toronto in the early 1970s to help establish the Second City’s Canadian outpost.

He directed early performances and helped recruit an all-star cast.

He went on to become a founding cast member of “SCTV,” along with Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara and John Candy.

Andrea Martin says Flaherty was older than the rest of the cast, and served as a sort of mentor.

Martin Short — who joined the cast later — says Flaherty helped him get his bearings, and showed him how to spot the best performances.

Flaherty’s characters on SCTV 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.

After SCTV went off the air, Flaherty continued to work in film and TV, including in “Happy Gilmore” and “Freaks and Geeks.”

He also helped found the comedy writing and performance program at Toronto’s Humber College.