# John Mahoney of Frasier dead at 77 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [February 5, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266 "2018-02-05T23:25:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/1 "2018-02-05T23:25:14Z")
> **[‘Frasier’ Star John Mahoney Dies at 77](https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/john-mahoney-dead-dies-frasier-1202688144/)** > > John Mahoney, best known for playing Martin Crane on 11 seasons of “Frasier,” died in Chicago on Sunday while in hospice care, his manager, Paul Martino, confirmed. He was 77. Mahoney p… Frasier is one of my favorite shows, so this one hit me kind of hard. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/2 "2018-02-05T23:27:49Z")
Love that show in its early seasons. Am I right that he was playing against his actual personality in that show? I want to say I heard he was the actual smart, well-read, and erudite one on the set. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/3 "2018-02-05T23:34:30Z")
Shit, I’m right now watching the episode of \*Foyle’s War \*where he guests. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/4 "2018-02-05T23:36:49Z")
I thought he died quite a while ago. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/5 "2018-02-05T23:39:10Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I thought he died quite a while ago. Weird. Me too, I was certain of that. Even went to look it up. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/6 "2018-02-05T23:41:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Love that show in its early seasons. > > Am I right that he was playing against his actual personality in that show? I want to say I heard he was the actual smart, well-read, and erudite one on the set. Also British, and gay. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/7 "2018-02-05T23:54:50Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Love that show in its early seasons. > > Am I right that he was playing against his actual personality in that show? I want to say I heard he was the actual smart, well-read, and erudite one on the set. Yes, it’s true. I’ve read that he taught David Hyde Pierce to appreciate opera. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/8 "2018-02-06T00:08:59Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Also British, and gay. Yes, I’d forgotten that. Yeah, he was a great actor, playing nothing similar to himself. That “Bulldog” guy is also gay and nothing like his sports-dj character, I think. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/9 "2018-02-06T00:10:36Z")
“Under hospice care” so it wasn’t unexpected by the family. Still, he was one of the greats. RIP, John. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/10 "2018-02-06T00:12:12Z")
Oh fuck. One of the good guys is gone. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/11 "2018-02-06T00:15:33Z")
Indeed. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MozviI5amdg/hqdefault.jpg "Vocab Eclectic") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MozviI5amdg) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/12 "2018-02-06T00:19:22Z")
I only saw his work in Frasier. John was always very good playing the grumpy old man. I liked the way Martin always brought Frasier down a peg and kept his ego in check. I heard John was actually in good health when he played that role. RIP John ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/13 "2018-02-06T00:57:05Z")
Oh dear. I’m so sorry to read this. I loved him as Frasier’s dad. But I also loved him in _Moonstruck_, where he flirted with Olympia Dukakis in that restaurant after the female student he was dating threw a drink in his face. He was only 77? I guess he’s in that great big ugly [recliner](https://efedesigns.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/chair_martin_crane.jpg)in the sky now. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/14 "2018-02-06T02:10:59Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > But I also loved him in _Moonstruck_, where he flirted with Olympia Dukakis in that restaurant after the female student he was dating threw a drink in his face. I was about to say my wife and I were just talking about him because we were watching _Moonstruck_ and pointed him out. He’s also in _Primal Fear_, remember that? Doing the heavy drama thing with no comedy tied in. The police commissioner or something like that? Anyway, he’ll be missed; rest well, John. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/15 "2018-02-06T02:38:37Z")
He was also the ever-caring but ultimately duplicitous father of Ione Skye’s character in _Say Anything…_ A great character actor who nailed every role I ever say him play. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/16 "2018-02-06T03:00:53Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Also British, and gay. Born in England yes but moved to the US in his teens and purposely lost his accent before he became an actor. He was in the Army and got tired of being teased about his accent. As for being gay I don’t believe he ever officially came out. He had colon cancer years ago which meant he had to live with a colostomy bag and had several other health issues. I remember seeing him interviewed and when asked about his personal life he basically said his health issues had kept him from being in a relationship for years. Other than that he was very private. He didn’t start acting until later in life and then Gary Sinese asked him to join Steppenwolf. As good as he was in tv and movies he was better regarded on the stage. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/17 "2018-02-06T03:04:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I only saw his work in Frasier. John was always very good playing the grumpy old man. I liked the way Martin always brought Frasier down a peg and kept his ego in check. > > I heard John was actually in good health when he played that role. > > RIP John He did have colon cancer in the 80s but had beat it by the time the show was on. And he was only 15 years older than Kelsey Grammer. Acting! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/18 "2018-02-06T03:31:56Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > He was also the ever-caring but ultimately duplicitous father of Ione Skye’s character in _Say Anything…_ A great character actor who nailed every role I ever say him play. > > Stranger Came in to mention this role. So strong in his justification of his crimes and ultimately forced to face the reality of prosecution and everything it costs him. The scene where his credit cards get declined, and the prison scene with Cusack, are just brilliantly played. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/19 "2018-02-06T06:58:20Z")
He had a great guest role on \*Cheers \*as a jingle-writer. Don’t have time to search for it now, but I imagine it is immortalized on YouTube somewhere. Ah, here it is: [Beer and pretzels that's our game, C-H-E-R-S - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO1AKAKGCvk) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266/20 "2018-02-06T07:23:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I > > I heard John was actually in good health when he played that role. > > RIP John He was only 15 years older than Kelsey Grammer, so, not really old enough to be his dad. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mahoney-of-frasier-dead-at-77/808266.md?page=2)