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Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV
Callum Jones
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV
Happy Gilmore star Joe Flaherty has died at the age of 82.
The Freaks & Geeks star passed away on Monday (1 April).
His daughter, Gudrun, confirmed the news to Variety in a statement via the Comedic Artists Alliance: "After a brief illness, he left us yesterday, and since then, I’ve been struggling to come to terms with this immense loss.
"Dad was an extraordinary man, known for his boundless heart and an unwavering passion for movies from the ’40s and ’50s.
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"His insights into the golden age of cinema didn’t just shape his professional life; they were also a source of endless fascination for me.
"In these last few months, as he faced his health challenges, we had the precious opportunity to watch many of those classic movies together — moments I will forever hold dear.”
Flaherty played Harold Weir in the cult classic Freaks and Geeks, starring as the father of Linda Cardellini’s Lindsay and John Francis Daley’s Sam.
The show’s one season received critical acclaim and became a firm favourite with fans.
Flaherty starred alongside a host of stars before they become famous, with Seth Rogen, James Franco, Busy Phillips, Jason Segel, and Shia LaBeouf all starring in the show before they blew up.
The Happy Gilmore actor's passing comes just a month after improv comedy group Second City, organized a fundraiser to support him while he was ill.
"Our beloved SCTV cast member, Joe Flaherty, is very ill. Joe is aware of the gravity of his failing health and would like to spend whatever time he has left at home rather than in a facility," his co-star Martin Short said.
"We are writing to our friends because we believe SCTV meant something to you, and that would not be the case if it were not for Joe Flaherty.
"He was a mentor, a director, and an inspiring improviser who gave us many of the tools we are still using in the careers he helped kickstart.
"And he made us all laugh! We believe that you would want to know about Joe's condition and, perhaps, even want to contribute towards his home care."
Tributes have since poured in for Flaherty, including from some of his former co-stars.
"Joe Flaherty played my dad in The Wrong Guy. I was so thrilled to be able to work with him," Jennifer Tilly shared on X.
"His performance was pitch perfect. A great comedian. Gone too soon."