SCTV writer and actor Joe Flaherty has died aged 82.

Flaherty died Monday (April 1), with multiple news outlets, including the Canadian Press, reporting that he had been battling a brief illness.

Flaherty had more than a dozen film and TV credits to his name, but it was his writing and characters on the famed Canadian sketch comedy Second City Television, most commonly referred to as SCTV, that he is most remembered for.

The show, produced by The Second City, won two Emmys for writing in a variety or music program in 1982 and 1983. Cast members included John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Martin Short and Dave Thomas.

Born in Pittsburgh, Flaherty was part of The Second City improv and sketch comedy theatre in Chicago before moving to Toronto as the company put down roots in Canada in 1963. Flaherty was an ACTRA Toronto member

Flaherty was a co-creator and cast member of SCTV, which was originally created for Global and would go on to move to CBC, then Super Channel. It also ran in the U.S. on NBC. SCTV aired for six seasons between 1976 and 1984.

“With a career spanning decades, Joe brought laughs to generations of comedy audiences,” The Second City said in an Instagram post.

ACTRA Toronto said in a statement on X that “Joe had a long and successful career who brought to life so many memorable characters that we have cherished for years.

His acting credits include Maniac Mansion, Freaks and Geeks, Police Academy: The Series, and King of Queens. He also played the heckling fan in the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore.

In a post on X, Sandler remembered Flaherty as a “genius of a comedian.”

Image: Wikimedia Commons