# Joseph Maher

Joseph Sylvester Maher (29 December 1933 – 17 July 1998) was an Irish actor, playwright, and occasional theatre director. He was best known for his roles in the comedies of Joe Orton. 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.

## 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.
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.

## 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. He was buried at Aughaval Cemetery in his hometown of Westport, County Mayo.

## Partial filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1966 | Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake | Celebrant | |
| 1972 | It Ain't Easy | Charlie | |
| 1974 | For Pete's Sake | Mr. Coates | |
| 1976 | Diary of the Dead | Walter Johnson | |
| 1978 | Heaven Can Wait | Sisk | |
| 1979 | Time After Time | Adams | |
| 1980 | Just Tell Me What You Want | Dr. Coleson | |
| 1980 | Those Lips, Those Eyes | Fibby Geyer | |
| 1981 | Going Ape! | Gridley | |
| 1981 | Under the Rainbow | The Duke | |
| 1982 | I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can | Doctor Kalman | |
| 1984 | The Evil That Men Do | Molloch | |
| 1984 | Frankenweenie | Mr. Chambers | Short |
| 1986 | Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp | Sultan | Episode 23, Faerie Tale Theatre |
| 1987 | Gimme A Break! | Professor Dudley | |
| 1988 | Funny Farm | Michael Sinclair | |
| 1988 | My Stepmother is an Alien | Lucas Budlong | |
| 1988 | ALF | Angel Bob | Season 3, Episode 2 - "Stairway to Heaven" |
| 1990 | The Local Stigmatic | David | |
| 1991 | Seinfeld | Gavin Polone | Season 3, Episode 4 - "The Dog" |
| 1992 | Sister Act | Monsignor O'Hara | |
| 1994 | Killer | Dr. Alstricht | |
| 1994 | The Shadow | Isaac Newboldt | |
| 1994 | I.Q. | Nathan Liebknecht | |
| 1996 | Surviving Picasso | Kahnweiler | |
| 1996 | Mars Attacks! | White House Decorator | |
| 1996 - 1997 | Goode Behavior | Chancellor Willoughby | 22 episodes |
| 1997 | In & Out | Father Tim | |
| 1998 | OK Garage | Lilly | |
| 1998 | Hoods | Dr. Alstrich | |
| 1999 | The Out-of-Towners | Mr. 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 | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Night and Day | Nominated |
| 1986 | 40th Tony Awards | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Loot | Nominated |
| 1986 | 31st Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Loot | Won |
| 1991 | 15th Laurence Olivier Awards | Comedy Performance of the Year | What the Butler Saw | Nominated |