Comedian Joe Flaherty, known for his role in ‘SCTV,’ passes away after battling illness, his family announces

Comedian Joe Flaherty, renowned as one of the founding members of the iconic Canadian sketch series “SCTV,” has passed away.

According to his daughter Gudrun, Flaherty succumbed to a brief illness on Monday.

Born in Pittsburgh, Flaherty’s comedic journey took flight during his seven-year tenure at The Second City in Chicago, where he honed his craft before venturing northward to assist in the establishment of the theater’s Toronto branch.

His indelible mark was made through his stellar performances alongside luminaries such as John Candy and Catherine O’Hara in “SCTV,” a groundbreaking show centered around a fictional television station dubbed Second City Television, populated by a motley crew of characters both in front of and behind the cameras.

Flaherty’s repertoire of memorable characters included the bumbling network executive Guy Caballero and the hilariously eerie Count Floyd, a vampire-themed TV host.

Throughout his career, Flaherty maintained a deep connection to Toronto, where he served as an artist-in-residence at Humber College, nurturing emerging talents and contributing to the city’s vibrant comedic landscape.