Photo Credit: Everett Collection
RIP Joe Flaherty.
He had a long and distinguished career in comedy that spanned 5 decades!
Joe was probably most well know from his time as a cast member on the Canadian founded sketch show “SCTV”.
Together with an all-star cast — which included John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas and Andrea Martin — Joe created many memorable sketches and characters
Two of his most memorable were…
SCTV Network President Guy Cabellero…
And Count Floyd…
I am not an active member of the comedy scene, but I am a graduate of the Comedy Writing & Performance program at Humber College. We were incredibly lucky to have Joe with us as an “Artist In Residence” during my time there in the early 2000’s. I
I remember helping as an assistant during a weekend workshop for teens. When it came up that he had a small role in the film “Happy Gilmore” the youth in class were asking who he played. I helped them out by muttering “Jackass” from the back of the room.
I then immediately said “sorry” as Joe must have gotten tired of people saying that back to him.
The students were also talking about how one of their favourite TV sitcoms at the time was “That 70’s Show”. Joe claimed that he didn’t know the program. I piped up yet again and gently pointed out that he and Dave Thomas had actually guest starred on an episode as Mounties who caught the gang trying to buy and smuggle beer back into the U.S.
Joe just chuckled and said “oh yeah”. He has SOOO many credits, he was bound to forget a few.
I’d wager that the performance of Joe’s that has been seen by the most people worldwide is in brief but memorable cameo in “Back To The Future Part 2” as a Western Union employee who hands Michael J. Fox’s character an all to important delivery…
The future is now a lot less warm and funny.
Thanks for the laughs Joe.
