Her statement read: \u201cAfter a brief illness, he left us yesterday, and since then, I\u2019ve been struggling to come to terms with this immense loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad was an extraordinary man, known for his boundless heart and an unwavering passion for movies from the \u201940s and \u201950s.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis insights into the golden age of cinema didn\u2019t just shape his professional life; they were also a source of endless fascination for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn these last few months, as he faced his health challenges, we had the precious opportunity to watch many of those classic movies together \u2014 moments I will forever hold dear.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the founding members of Canadian sketch show SCTV, Flaherty starred alongside the likes of Catherine O\u2019Hara and Martin Short \u2013 with the latter since paying tribute to Flaherty, telling CBC<\/a> that he \u201crelied on [Flaherty] desperately\u201d after joining SCTV.<\/p>\n Short added in a statement to\u00a0Rolling Stone<\/a>: \u201cIn SCTV, we called him the anchor. In life, he was simply the funniest man in the room. I just adored him.\u201d<\/p>\n Flaherty starred on SCTV from 1976 to 1981, also serving as a writer, and then went on to star in Freaks and Geeks from 1999.<\/p>\n The \u201980s-set drama-comedy saw Flaherty star as Harold Weir, the patriarch of the Weir family, alongside Becky Ann Baker as his on-screen wife Jean, Linda Cardellini as daughter Lindsay and John Francis Daley as son Sam.<\/p>\n But Flaherty went on to star in numerous shows and films throughout his career, including Back to the Future II, Happy Gilmore and Family Guy.<\/p>\n In his later life and throughout his illness, his SCTV collaborators used social media to help raise funds for him through the Comedic Artists Alliance.<\/p>\n Tributes continue to pour in for the comedian, with acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, who directed a yet-to-be-released SCTV reunion, saying in a statement to Rolling Stone<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019ve always been drawn to comedians and comic actors \u2014 they have to be disciplined, observant, practiced.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s no exaggeration to say that they pretty much have to be great. And Joe was great, a true master of his art.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam Sandler, who Flaherty starred alongside in Happy Gilmore, also paid tribute to Flaherty on his Instagram<\/a>, writing: \u201cOh man. Worshipped Joe growing up. Always had me and my brother laughing. Count Floyd, Guy Caballero. Any move he made. He crushed as border guard in Stripes. Couldn\u2019t be more fun to have him heckle me on the golf course.<\/p>\n \u201cThe nicest guy you could know. Genius of a comedian. And a true sweetheart. Perfect combo. Much love to his kids and thanks to Joe for all the greatness he gave us all.\u201d<\/p>\n #SCTV<\/a> was easily one of the greatest sketch comedies in the history of television with some of the most brilliant comic actors ever assembled in one show. Thank you #JoeFlaherty<\/a>– your legacy of laughs will last from here to eternity. #RIP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xANitEQr3c<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) April 2, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>![\"Joe](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/04\/Joe-Flaherty-2-94334ef.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Almost")
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