Joe Flaherty, beloved ‘SCTV’ and ‘Freaks and Geeks’ star, dead at 82

Joe Flaherty first made his mark on the comedy scene at 'SCTV,' playing iconic characters like news anchor Floyd Robertson and SCTV station manager Guy Caballero.

Comedian Joe Flaherty, a founding member of the Canadian sketch series SCTV, has died at the age of 82.

His daughter confirmed to the Canadian Press he died Monday following a brief illness.

Flaherty first made his mark on the comedy scene while at SCTV, playing characters like Count Floyd, news anchor Floyd Robertson and the iconic character of SCTV station manager, Guy Caballero.

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Flaherty served in the United States Air Force for several years before making the pivot to acting. He moved to Chicago and joined the Second City Theatre troupe.

Later, he moved to Toronto and helped establish the Toronto Second City theatre troupe, which led to a starring role on SCTV as one of the original performers and writers.

He was a staple in television comedies in the 1990s, including a regular role on the sitcom Maniac Mansion. He also spent a year playing Cmdt. Stuart Hefilfinger in the short-lived Police Academy television reboot.

In 1999 he took on what became perhaps his most memorable role, starring as Harold Weir in the now-cult favourite NBC comedy Freaks and Geeks. The show only lasted one season, but Flaherty made his mark as the highly irritable but loving dad to Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) and Sam Weir (John Francis Daly.)

He also made his foray into the world of cinema, including the role of a sabotaging golf fan who yelled “Jackass!” every time Adam Sandler stepped up to the tee in Happy Gilmore.