Joe Flaherty, 'SCTV' & 'Freaks & Geeks' Star, Dies at 82

Joe Flaherty, the beloved comedian & star of Second City TV & Freaks & Geeks, died late Monday night at the age of 82.

Just a little over a month ago, a fundraiser was organized on his behalf by the Comedic Artists Alliance to help raise funds for his recovery with the help his SCTV cast mates including Martin Short. We are deeply saddened to hear of the turn Flaherty's health ultimately took.

In an official statement confirmed with Variety, Flaherty's daughter Gudrun shared, "After a brief illness, he left us yesterday, and since then, I’ve been struggling to come to terms with this immense loss,” Gudrun said.

“Dad was an extraordinary man, known for his boundless heart and an unwavering passion for movies from the ’40s and ’50s. His insights into the golden age of cinema didn’t just shape his professional life; they were also a source of endless fascination for me. In these last few months, as he faced his health challenges, we had the precious opportunity to watch many of those classic movies together — moments I will forever hold dear."

Flaherty's frequent collaborators Joel Murray, Jennifer Tilly & Happy Gilmore co-star Christopher McDonald shared their sentiments earlier this morning.

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