Joe Flaherty, Freaks and Geeks actor, dies aged 82

Joe Flaherty, the comic and actor who performed sitcom dad Harold Weir in Freaks and Geeks, has died. He was 82.

In a press release, Flaherty’s daughter Gudrun stated of her father: “After a short sickness, he left us yesterday, and since then, I’ve been struggling to return to phrases with this immense loss.

“Dad was a rare man, identified for his boundless coronary heart and an unwavering ardour for films from the ’40s and ’50s. His insights into the golden age of cinema didn’t simply form his skilled life; they had been additionally a supply of countless fascination for me.

“In these previous few months, as he confronted his well being challenges, we had the dear alternative to look at lots of these basic films collectively – moments I’ll eternally maintain expensive.”

Amongst these paying tribute on social media have been the Mad Males actor Joel Murray, who wrote on X/Twitter: “We’ve misplaced one other of my idols. RIP Joe Flaherty 1941-2024”.

Jennifer Tilly, who starred alongside Flaherty in 1997 comedy The Mistaken Man, wrote: “I used to be so thrilled to have the ability to work with him. His efficiency was pitch excellent. An important comic. Gone too quickly.”

The Simpsons showrunner Al Jean recalled telling Flaherty that he’d bought his 1982 comedy album Depend Floyd, which featured tracks like “Reggae Christmas Eve in Transylvania”. Jean wrote: “He stated ‘You’re the one!’ RIP my hero Joe Flaherty.”

Spinal Faucet star Michael McKean added: “RIP Joe Flaherty. Pretty man and good grief, he was humorous.”

Flaherty was born in Pittsburgh in 1941, the eldest of seven youngsters. He served within the US Air Drive for 4 years earlier than beginning his appearing profession in theatre.

After shifting to Chicago, Flaherty grew to become a member of the Second Metropolis Theatre. There he honed his expertise as a sketch comic alongside the likes of John Belushi and Harold Ramis. After seven years in Chicago, he moved to Canada to assist launch Second Metropolis in Toronto. There he grew to become one of many unique writers and performers on the long-running sketch present SCTV, creating characters equivalent to his horror host Depend Floyd.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled

Attempt without spending a dime

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled

Attempt without spending a dime

Flaherty appeared in quite a few basic comedies, together with cameo appearances in Again to the Future Half II and Completely satisfied Gilmore and an everyday function within the tv adaptation of the Police Academy collection.

He was finest identified for his function in Paul Feig’s Freaks and Geeks, taking part in father-of-two Harold Weir. In a single Halloween-themed episode he donned an affordable vampire costume in reference to his Depend Floyd character.

Flaherty was married to Judith Dagley for 22 years, till they divorced. They’d two youngsters, Gudrun, who can be an actor and author, and Gabriel.