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.
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 film 1988 Funny Farm Michael Sinclair 1988 My Stepmother Is an Alien Lucas Budlong 1990 The Local Stigmatic David 1991SeinfeldGavinEpisode: "The Dog" 1992 Sister Act Monsignor O'Hara 1992Batman: The Animated SeriesEmile Dorian (voice)Episode: "Tyger Tyger" A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. 1993 Partners Edward Hooper Television film 1994 Killer Dr. Alstricht 1994 The Shadow Isaac Newboldt 1994 I.Q. Nathan Liebknecht 1996 Surviving Picasso Kahnweiler 1996 Mars Attacks! White House Decorator 1997 In & Out Father Tim 1998 OK Garage Lilly 1998 Hoods Dr. Alstrich 1999 The Out-of-Towners Mr. Wellstone Final film role
Stage Year Production Role Notes 1968 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Guildenstern Broadway 1975 Travesties James Joyce Broadway 1977 Knock Knock Dr. Cooper Broadway 1983 You Never Can Tell Valentine Broadway revival 1985 Loot Inspector Truscott Broadway 1986 Taking Steps Roland Crabbe Broadway 1987 The Nerd Rick Steadman Broadway 1991 The Importance of Being Earnest Canon Chasuble Broadway revival
Awards and nominations + Major associations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1977 22nd Village Voice Obie Awards Distinguished Performance by an Actor Savages 1979 33rd Tony Awards Best Featured Actor in a Play Spokesong 1980 34th Tony Awards Night and Day 1986 40th Tony Awards Loot 31st Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play 1991 15th Laurence Olivier Awards Comedy Performance of the Year What the Butler Saw
Notes
References
External links
Joseph Maher papers, 1960-1998, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts