Joseph Maher

Joseph Sylvester Maher (29 December 1933 – 17 July 1998) was an Irish actor, playwright, and occasionally theatre director. He was best known for his roles in the comedies of Joe Orton.[1] He received three Tony Award nominations for his roles in the plays Spokesong, Night and Day, and Loot, with the last winning him a Drama Desk Award. His other accolades included an Obie Award and a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.

Joseph Maher
Born
Joseph Sylvester Maher[lower-alpha 1]

(1933-12-29)29 December 1933
Died17 July 1998(1998-07-17) (aged 64)
Resting placeAughaval Cemetery
Occupations
Years active1959–1998

Early life

Maher was born in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, on 29 December 1933. He was one of ten children born to Delia A. (née O'Malley) and Joseph Maher Sr., a schoolteacher.[2]

Maher immigrated to Canada in 1956 and in his youth worked for an oil company. He started acting with the Canadian Players and performed across Canada for three years before moving to New York.[3]

Career

Maher's Broadway theatre credits include The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, King Henry V, The Royal Family, Night and Day, and Loot.

Maher's film credits include For Pete's Sake, Heaven Can Wait, Time After Time, Just Tell Me What You Want, I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can, The Evil That Men Do, Frankenweenie, My Stepmother is an Alien, Sister Act, Funny Farm, I.Q., In & Out, The Shadow, Mars Attacks! and The Out-of-Towners.

Maher's appearances on television included roles in the soap operas Guiding Light and Another World. He also guest-starred in several other TV series including M*A*S*H, Wonder Woman, When Things Were Rotten, Ellery Queen, St. Elsewhere, ALF, Gimme a Break!, Moonlighting, Thirtysomething, Murder, She Wrote, Seinfeld, Tales from the Crypt and Chicago Hope.

Death

Maher died of a brain tumor at his home in Los Angeles, California, on 17 July 1998, at age 64.[1][3] He was buried at Aughaval Cemetery in his hometown of Westport, County Mayo.

Partial filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1966Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans WakeCelebrant
1972It Ain't EasyCharlie
1974For Pete's SakeMr. Coates
1976Diary of the DeadWalter Johnson
1978Heaven Can WaitSisk
1979Time After TimeAdams
1980Just Tell Me What You WantDr. Coleson
1980Those Lips, Those EyesFibby Geyer
1981Going Ape!Gridley
1981Under the RainbowThe Duke
1982I'm Dancing as Fast as I CanDoctor Kalman
1984The Evil That Men DoMolloch
1984FrankenweenieMr. ChambersShort
1986Aladdin and His Wonderful LampSultanEpisode 23, Faerie Tale Theatre
1987Gimme A Break!Professor Dudley
1988Funny FarmMichael Sinclair
1988My Stepmother is an AlienLucas Budlong

1988 ALF as angel bob on episode "Stairway to Heaven"

1990The Local StigmaticDavid
1992Sister ActMonsignor O'Hara
1994KillerDr. Alstricht
1994The ShadowIsaac Newboldt
1994I.Q.Nathan Liebknecht
1996Surviving PicassoKahnweiler
1996Mars Attacks!White House Decorator
1997In & OutFather Tim
1998OK GarageLilly
1998HoodsDr. Alstrich
1999The Out-of-TownersMr. Wellstone(final film role)

Awards and nominations

Major associations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1977 22nd Village Voice Obie Awards Distinguished Performance by an Actor Savages Won
1979 33rd Tony Awards Best Featured Actor in a Play Spokesong Nominated
1980 34th Tony Awards Night and Day Nominated
1986 40th Tony Awards Loot Nominated
31st Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Won
1991 15th Laurence Olivier Awards Comedy Performance of the Year What the Butler Saw Nominated

Notes

  1. Joseph Sylvie Maher is the spelling on his tombstone.

References

  1. Applebome, Peter (21 July 1998). "Joseph Maher, Versatile Character Actor, Is Dead at 64". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  2. "Joseph Maher Biography". Film Reference. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  3. Oliver, Myrna (22 July 1998). "Joseph Maher, 64; TV, Screen and Stage Actor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
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