Joe Flaherty

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For the Irish politician, see Joe Flaherty (politician).

Joe Flaherty
Flaherty in 2009
Born
Joseph O'Flaherty

(1941-06-21)June 21, 1941
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S
DiedApril 1, 2024(2024-04-01) (aged 82)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • comedian
Years active1969–2018
Spouse
Judith Dagley
​
​
(m. 1974; div. 1996)​
Children2

Joseph Flaherty (born Joseph O'Flaherty, June 21, 1941 – April 1, 2024) was an American actor, writer, and comedian. He is best known for his work on the Canadian sketch comedy SCTV from 1976 to 1984 (on which he also served as a writer), his role as Harold Weir on Freaks and Geeks, and starring as Donald the heckler in Happy Gilmore (1996).

Early life and career[edit]

Joseph O'Flaherty was born on June 21, 1941, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the eldest of seven children.[1][2] His father was a production clerk at Westinghouse Electric and of Irish heritage and his mother was of Italian descent.[1]

Flaherty served in the United States Air Force for four years, before becoming involved in dramatic theatre.[1]

Flaherty moved to Chicago, where he started his comedy career in 1969 with the Second City Theater as Joe O'Flaherty and would work with future stars such as John Belushi and Harold Ramis.[3] He dropped the "O" in his birth name as there was another Joseph O'Flaherty registered with Actors Equity.[1] Along with several other Second City performers, he began appearing on the National Lampoon Radio Hour from 1973 to 1974. After seven years in Chicago, he moved to Toronto to help establish the Toronto Second City theatre troupe.[4] During those years, he was one of the original writer/performers on SCTV, where he spent eight years on the show, playing such characters as Big Jim McBob (of Farm Film Report fame), Count Floyd/Floyd Robertson, and station owner/manager Guy Caballero, who goes around in a wheelchair only for respect and undeserved sympathy.[5][6][7]

SCTV ceased production in 1984.[8] The same year, Flaherty played Count Floyd in a short film that was shown at concerts by the rock band Rush before the song "The Weapon", for their tour in support of Grace Under Pressure (and can be seen in the home video, Grace Under Pressure Tour).[9]

In 1988, Flaherty reprised his Count Floyd character for live-action segments of the animated series "The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley", a character created and voiced by another SCTV alum, Martin Short.[10]

Flaherty appeared in a number of cult-favorite films, including an appearance as a Western Union postal worker who delivers Doc Brown's 70-year-old letter to Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II (1989), as well as the crazed fan yelling "jackass!" who secretly works for antagonist Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore.[11] In season eight of Family Guy, Flaherty once again played the Western Union man in "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side".[12][2]

Flaherty plays a Vatican Messenger in the Family Guy season 9 episode "The Big Bang Theory".[13] In 1989, he played a guest role in Married... with Children in the season-four episode "Tooth or Consequences", as a dentist who must repair Al Bundy's teeth.[14][15] From 1990-93, Flaherty starred in The Family Channel series, "Maniac Mansion".[16]

During 1997–1998, Flaherty starred in the television adaptation of Police Academy (Police Academy: The Series) as Cmdt. Stuart Hefilfinger. The series lasted for only one season.[11][17] In 1999, Flaherty joined the cast of Freaks and Geeks, an NBC hour-long dramedy set in the 1980–1981 academic year, in which he played Harold Weir, the "imperfect perfect" father of two teens.[9][18] Despite a dedicated cult following, the show only lasted one season.[19]

Flaherty made appearances on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens as Father McAndrew, the priest at the Heffernans' church. He starred on the Bite TV original program, Uncle Joe's Cartoon Playhouse, and served as a judge on the CBC program The Second City's Next Comedy Legend.[20]

From 2001 to 2004, he had appeared in various Disney shows and films, including The Legend of Tarzan and Home on the Range.[21]

In 2018, Flaherty participated in a cast reunion at Toronto's Elgin Theatre filmed by Martin Scorsese for a yet to be released Netflix special.[20]

Beginning in 2004, Flaherty was artist-in-residence at Humber College's School of Creative and Performing Arts in Toronto, where he taught a comedy writing course. He previously helped found the school's comedy writing and performance program serving as its artistic director. He was also on the program's advisory committee.[3][7][22]

Personal life and death[edit]

Flaherty died on April 1, 2024, at the age of 82, after a short illness.[23][24][25]

Characterizations[edit]

Flaherty impersonated a number of celebrities, including Kirk Douglas, Richard Nixon, Gregory Peck, Alan Alda, Bing Crosby, Gavin McLeod and Elvis Presley.[26][9]

Flaherty appeared in a cameo in the deleted scenes from Anchorman as the manager of a Texas television station and the boss of Christina Applegate, who played Veronica Corningstone, one of the members of a news station.[27][28][29] He also appeared as an immigration Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in the "Canadian Road Trip" episode of That '70s Show alongside fellow SCTV member Dave Thomas.[30][31]

In the third episode of Freaks and Geeks, "Tricks and Treats", he is dressed up as a vampire, a reference to his character Count Floyd.[32]

Discography[edit]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes References
1976 Tunnel Vision Carl Michaelevich [35]
1979 1941 Sal Stewart, Raoul Lipschitz [36]
1979 The Lady in Red [37][38]
1980 Used Cars Sam Slaton [35]
1981 By Design Veteran Father [39]
1981 Stripes Border Guard [40]
1981 Heavy Metal Lawyer, General (voice) [41]
1983 Going Berserk Chick Leff [35]
1984 Johnny Dangerously Death Row inmate Uncredited [42]
1985 Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird Sid Sleaze [35]
1986 Club Paradise Pilot [43]
1986 One Crazy Summer General Raymond [35]
1987 Innerspace Waiting Room Patient [44]
1987 Blue Monkey George Baker [35]
1988 Kid Safe: The Video Count Floyd Video [45]
1989 Who's Harry Crumb? Doorman [46]
1989 Speed Zone Vic DeRubis AKA Cannonball Fever [35]
1989 Back to the Future Part II Western Union Man [2]
1994 A Pig's Tale Milt Video [35]
1995 Stuart Saves His Family Cousin Ray [47]
1996 Happy Gilmore Donald [35]
1997 Snowboard Academy Mr. Barry Video [35]
1997 The Wrong Guy Fred Holden [35]
1999 Detroit Rock City Father Phillip McNulty [35]
2001 Freddy Got Fingered William Uncredited [35]
2002 Slackers Mr. Leonard [35]
2003 National Security Owen Fergus [35]
2004 Home on the Range Jeb the Goat (voice) [41]
2004 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Manager of Texas television station, boss of Veronica Corningstone Deleted scene [27][28][29]
2004 Phil the Alien Beaver (voice) [48]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes References
1972 The David Steinberg Show Kirk Dirkwood 10 episodes [49]
1976 The Sunshine Hour Various Regular
1976–1984 SCTV Various 131 episodes
1978 King of Kensington Fast Frankie Episode: "The Hustler" [27]
1985 George Burns Comedy Week Guest star [50][51]
1986 Really Weird Tales Your Host TV movie/pilot, also producer and writer [52][53]
1988 CBS Summer Playhouse Regis Rogan Episode: "Limited Partners"
1988 The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley Count Floyd 13 episodes
1989 Looking for Miracles Chief Berman TV movie [54]
1989 I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood Gene Siskel TV movie [55][56]
1989 Married... with Children Dr. Plierson Episode: "Tooth or Consequences" [35][14][15]
1990 Monsters Sherwin Episode: "Murray's Monster" [57]
1990–1993 Maniac Mansion Dr. Fred Edison 65 episodes
1991 Morton & Hayes Thug Episode: "The Vase Shop" [27]
1991 Little Dracula Big Dracula (voice) 4 episodes [41]
1993–1994 Dinosaurs Chief Elder (voice) [35]
1994 Nurses Mr. Fortin Episode: "The Big Jack Attack" [58][59]
1994 Phenom Father O'Malley [27]
1994 Rebel Highway Mr. Nicholson Episode: "Runaway Daughters" [27][60]
1994 Hardball Butt Winnick [61]
1995 Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare Kevin Dooley TV movie [27]
1996 Dream On Stod Episode: "Second Time Aground" [27]
1996 The Louie Show Mr. Wells Episode: "Take Two Donuts and Call Me in the Morning"
1996 Ellen Perry Episode: "Kiss My Bum" [27]
1997 Cartoon Planet Count Floyd Episode: "The Big Mouths"
1997 The Don's Analyst Dr. Lowell Royce TV movie [27]
1997–1998 Police Academy: The Series Cmdt. Stuart Hefilfinger 26 episodes
1999 Traders McGraff[citation needed] Episode: "This World... Then the Fireworks" [27]
1999 The Wonderful World of Disney Episode: "Dogmatic" [27]
1999–2000 Freaks and Geeks Harold Weir 18 episodes
2000 Mentors James Naismith Episode: "Nothing But Net" [27]
2001 Even Stevens Mr. Rupert Episode: "Almost Perfect" [27]
2001 The Industry Don Douglas Episode: "Goodbye"
2001 That '70s Show Bryan Episode: "Canadian Road Trip" [27]
2001 Go Fish Dr. Frank Troutner [27][62]
2001 Primetime Glick Clay Glick Episode: "Molly Shannon/Nathan Lane" [27]
2001 The Legend of Tarzan Hooft (voice) Episode: "Tarzan and the Mysterious Visitor" [27]
2001 The Santa Claus Brothers Snorkel (voice) TV movie [41]
2001–2003 The King of Queens Father McAndrew 4 episodes [27]
2002 Maybe It's Me Chaz Episode: "The Romeo & Juliet Episode" [27]
2002 Royal Canadian Air Farce [27]
2002 Frasier Herm Evans Episode: "Frasier Has Spokane" [27]
2002 A Nero Wolfe Mystery Dr. Vollmer 2 episodes
2002–2004 Teamo Supremo Cloaked Skull (voice) 4 episodes
2002 The True Meaning of Christmas Specials Bing Crosby TV movie [27]
2002–2003 Clone High Abe's Foster Dad (voice) 2 episodes [41]
2004 Puppets Who Kill Joe Episode: "Bill's Got the Blues" [27]
2005 Tilt Casino Player from Aliquippa Episode: "Risk Tolerance" [27]
2005 Chilly Beach Antoine DelVecchio Episode: "Driving Mr. Biggs" [27]
2007 The Business Mr. Dawson Episode: "Field Trip to Hollywood: Part 1"
2007–2008 Robson Arms Ramon Garcia 2 episodes
2008–2010 Caution: May Contain Nuts Count Floyd 2 episodes
2008–2011 Family Guy Various voices 3 episodes
2009 American Dad! Car Door Owner (voice) Episode: "Delorean Story-An"
2011 The Life & Times of Tim Frank / Security Guard (voice) 2 episodes
2012 I, Martin Short, Goes Home Atticus Finch TV movie
2012 Call Me Fitz Mayor Andrews Episode: "Teetotal Recall"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Hampson, Sarah (July 24, 2004). "The worrier in the comic mask". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Holpuch, Amanda (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty, 'SCTV' and 'Freaks and Geeks' Actor, Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Weaver, Jackson (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty, comedian known for work on SCTV and Freaks and Geeks, dead at 82". CBC News. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  4. ^ "The Second City – Joe Flaherty". The Second City. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  5. ^ "Joe Flaherty, Original 'SCTV' Castmember, Dies at 82". The Hollywood Reporter. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "Comedian Joe Flaherty of 'SCTV,' 'Freaks and Geeks' Dead at 82". Men's Journal. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Joe Flaherty". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Evans, Greg (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty Dies: 'SCTV' And 'Freaks And Geeks' Actor Was 82". Deadline. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d Lloyd, Robert (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty will always remain dear to comedy fans, thanks to 'SCTV' and 'Freaks and Geeks'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Callan, Matthew (July 5, 2011). ""It's All My Fault, Although I Also Blame Others": The Curious Case of the Ed Grimley Cartoon". Vulture. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Holmes, Martin (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty, 'SCTV' and 'Freaks and Geeks' Star, Dies at 82". TV Insider. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Ankers-Range, Adele (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty, SCTV and Freaks and Geeks Star, Dies at 82". IGN. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "Family Guy: Season 9, Episode 18". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Married With Children". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii. October 1, 1989. p. 5. Retrieved April 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Tooth or Consequences". Apple TV. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  16. ^ Vlessing, Etan (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty, Original 'SCTV' Castmember, Dies at 82". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  17. ^ "Joe Flaherty, SCTV and Freaks and Geeks Star, Dead at 82". AOL. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  18. ^ Lloyd, Robert (December 6, 2012). "2 Good 2 Be 4Gotten: An Oral History of Freaks and Geeks". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Bartleet, Larry (September 27, 2019). "Why was there never a second season of 'Freaks And Geeks', the cult show that's 20 years old". NME. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Semley, John (May 14, 2018). "What happens when Martin Scorsese reunites the SCTV cast". Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  21. ^ Hischak, Thomas S. (2011). Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland & Company. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-7864-6271-1.
  22. ^ Leblanc, Gilles (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty was American, but he delighted his Canadian fans with his many SCTV characters". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Holmes, Martin (2 April 2024). "Joe Flaherty Dead: 'Freaks & Geeks' Star Dies at 82". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  24. ^ "'SCTV' star, comedian Joe Flaherty dies following illness, daughter says". CityNews Toronto. Canadian Press. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "Adam Sandler, Martin Short, More Mourn Joe Flaherty: The 'Funniest Man'". Rolling Stone.
  26. ^ Matthews, David (April 2, 2024). "Joe Flaherty, 'SCTV' and 'Happy Gilmore' actor, dead at 82". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Flaherty, Joe 1941–". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Jacobson, Colin (April 6, 2007). "Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgandy - Unrated, Uncut and Uncalled For! (2004)". DVD Movie Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Evans, Bradford (July 21, 2011). "The Lost Roles of Anchorman". Vulture. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  30. ^ "Other highlights". Northwest Herald. Woodstock, Illinois. May 8, 2001. p. 2. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "That '70s Show Season 3 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  32. ^ "If you prefer a laugh over a scare, these 8 Halloween TV episodes will get you howling". AOL. October 30, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  33. ^ "Gold Turkey - National Lampoon | Album". Allmusic. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  34. ^ "Count Floyd Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". Allmusic. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Joe Flaherty". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  36. ^ Kendrick, James (May 29, 2014). Darkness in the Bliss-Out: A Reconsideration of the Films of Steven Spielberg. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 98. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ "The Lady in Red - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  38. ^ Wise, Wyndham (October 27, 2010). "Joe Flaherty". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  39. ^ "By Design". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  40. ^ Tenreyro, Tatiana (April 2, 2024). "Adam Sandler, John Francis Daley Pay Tribute to 'Happy Gilmore' and 'Freaks and Geeks' Star Joe Flaherty". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  41. ^ a b c d e "Joe Flaherty (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved February 22, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  42. ^ "Joe Flaherty, comic actor of 'SCTV' and 'Freaks and Geeks', dies at 82". Associated Press. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via The Washington Post.
  43. ^ "Club Paradise - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  44. ^ "Innerspace - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  45. ^ Waters, Dustin (October 24, 2018). "Revisiting the Surreal Kids Safety Video Made by Re-Animator's Director". Vulture. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  46. ^ "Joe Flaherty". TV Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  47. ^ Rogers, Nick (February 25, 2015). "Class of 1995: Stuart Saves His Family". Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  48. ^ "Phil the Alien - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  49. ^ "The David Steinberg Show". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  50. ^ "Wednesday's TV highlights". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. September 25, 1985. p. C16. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "TV highlights: who survived on 'Dynasty'?". Chicago Tribune. September 25, 1985. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  52. ^ "Really Weird Tales". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  53. ^ "Joe Flaherty, post-SCTV, discusses Really Weird Tales". cbc.ca. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  54. ^ "Looking for Miracles". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  55. ^ Ess, Ramsey (October 1, 2018). "Looking Back at I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood". Vulture. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  56. ^ "I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  57. ^ Muir, John Kenneth (February 25, 2013). Terror Television: American Series, 1970-1999. McFarland & Company. 50: "Murray's Monster". ISBN 9781476604169. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Google Books.
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  59. ^ "Nurses". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. April 17, 1994. p. 67. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ Willman, Chris (July 22, 1994). "TV REVIEWS: Showtime's 'Rebel Highway' Recycles AIP 'Classics'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  61. ^ Leszczak, Bob (September 14, 2018). Single Season Sitcoms of the 1990s: A Complete Guide. McFarland & Company. p. 80. ISBN 9781476670775. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Google Books.
  62. ^ Gallo, Phil (June 18, 2001). "Go Fish". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2024.

External links[edit]

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