Joe Flaherty

Joseph Flaherty (born Joseph O'Flaherty, June 21, 1941 – April 1, 2024) was an American actor, writer, and comedian. He is best known for his work on the Canadian sketch comedy SCTV from 1976 to 1984 (on which he also served as a writer, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards), his role as Harold Weir on Freaks and Geeks (1999), and as the heckler in Happy Gilmore (1996).

Early life and career

Joseph O'Flaherty was born on June 21, 1941, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the eldest of seven children.<ref name="globe" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> His father was a production clerk at Westinghouse Electric and of Irish heritage and his mother was of Italian descent.<ref name="globe">Template:Cite news</ref>

Flaherty served in the United States Air Force for four years, before becoming involved in dramatic theatre.<ref name="globe"/>

Flaherty moved to Chicago, where he started his comedy career in 1969 with the Second City Theater as Joe O'Flaherty and would work with future stars such as John Belushi and Harold Ramis.<ref name="CBCobit">Template:Cite news</ref> He dropped the "O" in his birth name as there was another Joseph O'Flaherty registered with Actors Equity.<ref name="globe"/> Along with several other Second City performers, he began appearing on the National Lampoon Radio Hour from 1973 to 1974. After seven years in Chicago, he moved to Toronto to help establish the Toronto Second City theatre troupe.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During those years, he was one of the original writer/performers on SCTV, where he spent eight years on the show, playing such characters as Big Jim McBob (of Farm Film Report fame), Count Floyd/Floyd Robertson, and station owner/manager Guy Caballero, who goes around in a wheelchair only for respect and undeserved sympathy.<ref name="THR">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="MJ">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="CE"/>

SCTV ceased production in 1984.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The same year, Flaherty played Count Floyd in a short film that was shown at concerts by the rock band Rush before the song "The Weapon", for their tour in support of Grace Under Pressure (and can be seen in the home video, Grace Under Pressure Tour).<ref name=":1" />

In 1988, Flaherty reprised his Count Floyd character for live-action segments of the animated series The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley, a character created and voiced by another SCTV alum, Martin Short.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Flaherty appeared in a number of cult-favorite films, including an appearance as a Western Union postal worker who delivers Doc Brown's 70-year-old letter to Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II (1989), as well as the crazed fan yelling "jackass!" who secretly works for antagonist Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore (1996).<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In season eight of Family Guy, Flaherty once again played the Western Union man in "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side".<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Flaherty plays a Vatican Messenger in the Family Guy season 9 episode "The Big Bang Theory".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1989, he played a guest role in Married... with Children in the season-four episode "Tooth or Consequences", as a dentist who must repair Al Bundy's teeth.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> From 1990–93, Flaherty starred in The Family Channel series, Maniac Mansion.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During 1997–1998, Flaherty starred in the television adaptation of Police Academy (Police Academy: The Series) as Cmdt. Stuart Hefilfinger. The series lasted for only one season.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1999, Flaherty joined the cast of Freaks and Geeks, an NBC hour-long dramedy set in the 1980–1981 academic year, in which he played Harold Weir, the "imperfect perfect" father of two teens.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite a dedicated cult following, the show only lasted one season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Flaherty made appearances on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens as Father McAndrew, the priest at the Heffernans' church. He starred on the Bite TV original program, Uncle Joe's Cartoon Playhouse, and served as a judge on the CBC program The Second City's Next Comedy Legend.<ref name="globe 2">Template:Cite news</ref>

From 2001 to 2004, he had appeared in various Disney shows and films, including The Legend of Tarzan and Home on the Range.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 2018, Flaherty participated in a SCTV cast reunion at Toronto's Elgin Theatre filmed by Martin Scorsese for a yet to be released Netflix special on SCTV.<ref name="globe 2" />

Beginning in 2004, Flaherty was artist-in-residence at Humber College's School of Creative and Performing Arts in Toronto, where he taught a comedy writing course. He previously helped found the school's comedy writing and performance program serving as its artistic director. He was also on the program's advisory committee.<ref name="CBCobit"/><ref name="CE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life and death

Flaherty was married to Judith Dagley for 22 years until their divorce in 1996.<ref name="CBCobit"/> They had two children, Gudrun, who is also an actress and writer, and Gabriel. His brothers, Paul (b. 1945)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Dave (1948–2017),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> were both comedy writers.<ref name="globe"/>

Flaherty died on April 1, 2024, at the age of 82, after a short illness.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Characterizations

Flaherty impersonated a number of celebrities, including Kirk Douglas, Richard Nixon, Gregory Peck, Alan Alda, Bing Crosby, Gavin McLeod, William F. Buckley Jr. and Elvis Presley.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Flaherty appeared in a cameo in the deleted scenes from Anchorman as the manager of a Texas television station and the boss of Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), one of the members of the station's news team.<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref name="Jacobson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Evans">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also appeared as an immigration Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in the "Canadian Road Trip" episode of That '70s Show alongside fellow SCTV member Dave Thomas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the third episode of Freaks and Geeks, "Tricks and Treats", he is dressed up as a vampire, a reference to his character Count Floyd.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Discography

• Gold Turkey (National Lampoon album, 1975)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Count Floyd (1982) (RCA)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	References
1976	Tunnel Vision	Carl Michaelevich		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1979	1941	Sal Stewart, Raoul Lipschitz		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1979	The Lady in Red			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1980	Used Cars	Sam Slaton		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1981	By Design	Veteran Father		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1981	Stripes	Border Guard		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1981	Heavy Metal	Lawyer, General (voice)		citation	CitationClass=web }} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
1983	Going Berserk	Chick Leff		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1984	Johnny Dangerously	Death Row inmate	Uncredited	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1985	Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird	Sid Sleaze		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1986	Club Paradise	Pilot		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1986	One Crazy Summer	General Raymond		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1987	Innerspace	Waiting Room Patient		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1987	Blue Monkey	George Baker		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1988	Kid Safe: The Video	Count Floyd	Video	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1989	Who's Harry Crumb?	Doorman		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1989	Speed Zone	Vic DeRubis	AKA Cannonball Fever	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1989	Back to the Future Part II	Western Union Man		<ref name=":2"/>
1994	A Pig's Tale	Milt	Video	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1995	Stuart Saves His Family	Cousin Ray		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	Happy Gilmore	Donald		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1997	Snowboard Academy	Mr. Barry	Video	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1997	The Wrong Guy	Fred Holden		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1999	Detroit Rock City	Father Phillip McNulty		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
2001	Freddy Got Fingered	William	Uncredited	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
2002	Slackers	Mr. Leonard		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
2003	National Security	Owen Fergus		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
2004	Home on the Range	Jeb the Goat (voice)		<ref name="btva" />
2004	Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy	Manager of Texas television station, boss of Veronica Corningstone	Deleted scene	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref name="Jacobson"/><ref name="Evans"/>
2004	Phil the Alien	Beaver (voice)		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	References
1972	The David Steinberg Show	Kirk Dirkwood	10 episodes	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1976	The Sunshine Hour	Various	Regular	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1976–1984	SCTV	Various		<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1978	King of Kensington	Fast Frankie	Episode: "The Hustler"	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1985	George Burns Comedy Week	Guest star		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1986	Really Weird Tales	Your Host	TV movie/pilot, also producer and writer	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1988	CBS Summer Playhouse	Regis Rogan	Episode: "Limited Partners"	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1988	The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley	Count Floyd	13 episodes	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1989	Looking for Miracles	Chief Berman	TV movie	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1989	I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood	Gene Siskel	TV movie	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1989	Married... with Children	Dr. Plierson	Episode: "Tooth or Consequences"	<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/><ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1990	Monsters	Sherwin	Episode: "Murray's Monster"	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1990–1993	Maniac Mansion	Dr. Fred Edison	65 episodes	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1991	Morton & Hayes	Thug	Episode: "The Vase Shop"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1991	Little Dracula	Big Dracula (voice)	4 episodes	<ref name="btva" />
1993–1994	Dinosaurs	Chief Elder (voice)		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
1994	Nurses	Mr. Fortin	Episode: "The Big Jack Attack"	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1994	Phenom	Father O'Malley		<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1994	Rebel Highway	Mr. Nicholson	Episode: "Runaway Daughters"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1994	Hardball	Butt Winnick		<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1995	Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare	Kevin Dooley	TV movie	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1995	Cartoon Planet	Count Floyd		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	Dream On	Stod	Episode: "Second Time Aground"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1996	The Louie Show	Mr. Wells		<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1996	Ellen	Perry	Episode: "Kiss My Bum"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1997	The Don's Analyst	Dr. Lowell Royce	TV movie	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1997–1998	Police Academy: The Series	Cmdt. Stuart Hefilfinger		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1999	Traders	McGraff	Episode: "This World... Then the Fireworks"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1999	The Wonderful World of Disney		Episode: "Dogmatic"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
1999–2000	Freaks and Geeks	Harold Weir	18 episodes	<ref name=":2"/><ref name=":1" />
2000	Mentors	James Naismith	Episode: "Nothing But Net"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2001	Even Stevens	Mr. Rupert	Episode: "Almost Perfect"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2001	The Industry	Don Douglas		<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2001	That '70s Show	Bryan	Episode: "Canadian Road Trip"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2001	Go Fish	Dr. Frank Troutner		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001	Primetime Glick	Clay Glick	Episode: "Molly Shannon/Nathan Lane"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2001	The Legend of Tarzan	Hooft (voice)	Episode: "Tarzan and the Mysterious Visitor"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2001	The Santa Claus Brothers	Snorkel (voice)	TV movie	<ref name="btva" />
2001–2003	The King of Queens	Father McAndrew	4 episodes	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2002	Maybe It's Me	Chaz	Episode: "The Romeo & Juliet Episode"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2002	Royal Canadian Air Farce			<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2002	Frasier	Herm Evans	Episode: "Frasier Has Spokane"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2002	A Nero Wolfe Mystery	Dr. Vollmer	2 episodes	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2002–2004	Teamo Supremo	Cloaked Skull (voice)		<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/><ref name="TV Guide"/>
2002	The True Meaning of Christmas Specials	Bing Crosby	TV movie	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2002–2003	Clone High	Abe's Foster Dad (voice)	2 episodes	<ref name="btva" />
2004	Puppets Who Kill	Joe	Episode: "Bill's Got the Blues"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2005	Tilt	Casino Player from Aliquippa	Episode: "Risk Tolerance"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2005	Chilly Beach	Antoine DelVecchio	Episode: "Driving Mr. Biggs"	<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
2005	Robson Arms	Ramon Garcia		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2008–2010	Caution: May Contain Nuts	Count Floyd		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2008–2011	Family Guy	Vatican Messenger		<ref name="Rotten Tomatoes"/>
2009	American Dad!	Car Door Owner (voice)	Episode: "Delorean Story-An"	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2012	I, Martin Short, Goes Home	Atticus Finch	TV movie	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2012	Call Me Fitz	Mayor Andrews	Episode: "Teetotal Recall"	<ref name="CBCobit" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

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• {{#if:Joe Flaherty|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs|{{#if:Template:Wikidata|Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs}}}}
• Interview on The Sound of Young America, 9/06
• Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca