Joe Flaherty
Birth Name: Joseph Flaherty
Date of Birth: June 21, 1941
Place of Birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Death: April 1, 2024
Place of Death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ethnicity:
*Irish (father)
*Italian (mother)
Joe Flaherty was an American actor, writer, and comedian. He worked and lived in the U.S. and Canada, and his roles included the shows SCTV, which he also wrote for; Freaks and Geeks, and Uncle Joe’s Cartoon Playhouse, and the films 1941, Used Cars, Stripes, Heavy Metal, Club Paradise, One Crazy Summer, Innerspace, Blue Monkey, Back to the Future Part II, Happy Gilmore, Detroit Rock City, and Freddy Got Fingered.
He was the son of Mildred B. and Joseph Thomas Flaherty, a production clerk at Westinghouse Electric. Although his birth name is often reported as O’Flaherty, this does not appear to be accurate. His brothers, Paul and Dave, have also been comedy writers. Joe had two children, including actress and writer Gudrun Flaherty, with his former wife Judith Dagley.
Joe’s paternal grandfather was Bartley Joseph Flaherty (the son of Thomas Michael Flaherty and Winifred Catherine O’Toole). Bartley was born in Pennsylvania, to Irish parents. Thomas was the son of Patrick Flaherty and Hannah.
Joe’s paternal grandmother was named Bridget Mullen (the daughter of Michael Mullen and Margaret). Bridget was born in Lettermullan, County Galway, Ireland.
Joe’s maternal grandfather was Vincenzo James Nicola Biagio Letteriello (the son of Cherubino Letteriello and Maria Proto). Vincenzo was born in Ottati, Campania, Italy. Cherubino was the son of Michele Letteriello and Marianna Avallone. Maria was the daughter of Antonino Proto.
Joe’s maternal grandmother was named Filomena Fasano (the daughter of Maria Giuseppa Cortaleta). Filomena was born in Sant’Angelo a Fasanella, Campania, Italy.
Sources: https://www.wesa.fm
https://www.theglobeandmail.com
Genealogy of Joe Flaherty – https://www.findagrave.com
Joe Flaherty on the 1950 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Joe’s paternal grandfather was Bartley Joseph Flaherty (the son of Thomas Michael Flaherty and Winifred Catherine O’Toole). Bartley was born in Pennsylvania, to Irish parents. Thomas was the son of Patrick Flaherty and Hannah.
Joe’s paternal grandmother was Bridget Mullen (the daughter of Michael Mullen and Margaret). Bridget was born in Lettermullan, County Galway, Ireland.
Joe’s maternal grandfather was Vincenzo James Nicola Biagio Letteriello (the son of Cherubino Letteriello and Maria Proto). Vincenzo was born in Ottati, Campania, Italy. Cherubino was the son of Michele Letteriello and Marianna Avallone. Maria was the daughter of Antonino Proto.
Joe’s maternal grandmother was Filomena Fasano (the daughter of Maria Giuseppa Cortaleta). Filomena was born in Sant’Angelo a Fasanella, Campania, Italy.
I think his birth name being Joseph O’Flaherty is probably a myth. I didn’t look at censuses yet, but his sister’s obituary suggests his siblings are all named Flaherty too.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/maureen-mcgregor-obituary?id=27285138