Hollywood lost a comedic legend this week, leaving fans and former colleagues in disbelief.

According to Yahoo News, Joe Flaherty, who was known for his roles in "Happy Gilmore" and "Freaks and Geeks," died at 82 this week following what was described as a "brief illness."

His death was confirmed by his daughter, Gudrun Flaherty.

Flaherty was also widely known for starring in the iconic sketch comedy series "SCTV."

Statements released

The actor's daughter released a touching statement regarding her father's death.

"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. 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," his daughter wrote.

She added, "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."

Adam Sandler And More Hollywood Stars React To Comedian Joe Flaherty’s Death https://t.co/D0J8Vookc4 pic.twitter.com/qIniT9thoH

— Daily Wire News (@DailyWireNews) April 3, 2024

Adam Sandler offered his thoughts on the actor's passing:

"Oh man. Worshipped Joe growing up. Always had me and my brother laughing. Count Floyd, Guy Caballero. Any move he made. He crushed as border guard in Stripes," Sandler said.

"Genius of a comedian"

Sandler went on to describe Flaherty and recounted his time on set during the filming of "Happy Gilmore."

"Couldn’t be more fun to have him heckle me on the golf course. The nicest guy you could know. Genius of a comedian. And a true sweetheart. Perfect combo," he wrote. "Much love to his kids and thanks to Joe for all the greatness he gave us all."

John Francis Daley wrote, "Joe Flaherty made me crack up so hard it ruined takes. My favorite days on set were the ones where we had scenes together. What a lovely guy."

Another X user wrote, "I'm sad about the death of Joe Flaherty. He made me laugh a lot over the years. May he rest in peace."