John Mahoney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Mahoney
Mahoney at the 46th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1994
Born	Charles John Mahoney (1940-06-20)June 20, 1940 Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Died	February 4, 2018(2018-02-04) (aged 77) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Burial place	Calvary Cemetery, Carthage, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1977–2017

Charles John Mahoney (born June 20, 1940 – died February 4, 2018) was a famous actor. He was born in England but became an American citizen. Many people know him for playing Martin Crane on the TV show Frasier from 1993 to 2004. For this role, he won a special acting award called a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2000.

John Mahoney started his acting journey in Chicago with a group called the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He worked alongside other well-known actors like John Malkovich and Gary Sinise. He also appeared in many movies, including Moonstruck (1987), Say Anything... (1989), and The American President (1995). You might also recognize his voice from animated movies like Antz (1998) and The Iron Giant (1999).

John Mahoney's Early Life and Move to America

Charles John Mahoney was born in Blackpool, England, on June 20, 1940. He was one of eight children. His family had to move to Blackpool because their home city of Manchester was bombed during World War II. John started school at St Joseph's College. After the war, his family moved back to Manchester, where he discovered acting at the Stretford Children's Theatre.

When he was 18, in March 1959, John Mahoney moved to the United States. His older sister, who lived in Illinois, helped him move. He went to Quincy University and later earned a master's degree from Western Illinois University. He even taught English for a while. In 1971, he officially became a U.S. citizen. After joining the U.S. Army, he worked hard to lose his English accent. He wanted to fit in better in his new country.

Mahoney's Acting Career Begins

John Mahoney wasn't happy with his job as a medical journal editor. So, he decided to take acting classes. This led him to quit his job and become a full-time actor. In 1977, after a play in Chicago, actor John Malkovich encouraged him to join the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. This was a big step for him.

Mahoney quickly became known for his talent. In 1986, he won the Clarence Derwent Award for being a promising new male actor. That same year, he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in the Broadway play The House of Blue Leaves. A Tony Award is one of the highest honors in theater.

Major Film Roles and Voice Acting

John Mahoney's first big movie roles came in 1987 with Tin Men and Suspect. Over the next few years, he appeared in many popular films. These included Moonstruck, Say Anything..., and In the Line of Fire. He also worked with the famous Coen brothers on movies like Barton Fink.

Besides acting on screen, John Mahoney was also a talented voice actor. He lent his voice to several animated characters. He was the voice of Grebs in Antz (1998) and General Rogard in The Iron Giant (1999). He also voiced Preston Whitmore in Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). In 2007, he even voiced Dr. Robert Terwilliger, Sr., Sideshow Bob's father, in an episode of The Simpsons. This was a fun reunion with his Frasier co-stars, Kelsey Grammer (Sideshow Bob) and David Hyde Pierce.

Playing Martin Crane in Frasier

John Mahoney is most famous for his role as Martin Crane in the TV show Frasier. He was on the show from its very first episode in 1993 until the last one in 2004. Martin Crane was the father of the main characters, Frasier and Niles Crane. For this role, Mahoney was nominated for two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

Before Frasier, Mahoney actually appeared in an episode of Cheers, which Frasier was a spin-off from. He played a character named Sy Flembeck. The people who made Frasier really wanted John Mahoney for the role of Martin. They thought he was perfect for it.

Later Career and Legacy

After Frasier ended, John Mahoney continued to act. He appeared in plays, including a Broadway show called Prelude to a Kiss in 2007. He also made guest appearances on TV shows like ER and Hot in Cleveland. In Hot in Cleveland, he reunited with his Frasier co-star Jane Leeves.

One of his last acting roles was in a play called The Rembrandt in 2017. Even with all his success, Mahoney often said that his early play Orphans was the one that affected people the most. He received letters and comments about it for many years.

John Mahoney's Personal Life and Faith

John Mahoney lived in Oak Park, Illinois. He faced colon cancer in the mid-1980s and again in 2014. He said that his love for acting helped him fight the illness. He believed his passion gave him the strength to keep going.

Mahoney was a private person. He never married or had children. He was a Catholic and said his faith was very important to him. He would pray every day, thanking God for his talents and asking for help to treat everyone with love and respect.

Mahoney's Passing

John Mahoney passed away in a Chicago hospice on February 4, 2018. He was 77 years old. He died due to complications from throat cancer, which he had been diagnosed with in 2014. His friend, Anna D. Shapiro, mentioned that he had beaten the cancer, but other health issues made him too weak.

Film and Television Roles

Here are some of the movies and TV shows John Mahoney appeared in:

Film

Television

Awards and Recognitions

John Mahoney received several awards for his acting:

Images for kids

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  Mahoney voice acting in 2007