Sad news for fans of one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history.
John Mahoney, who played Martin Crane on the much-loved ’90s sitcom Frasier, has died at the age of 77.
Mahoney’s manager Paul Martino confirmed that the actor passed away on Sunday after a brief spell in hospital in Chicago.
The British actor – Mahoney was born in Blackpool, but spent much of his life in Chicago – only started acting at 37 and found fame playing the down-to-Earth father of Frasier and Niles Crane in the spin-off to Cheers.
Frasier ran for 13 seasons between 1993 and 2004, with Mahoney receiving two Emmy nominations, two Golden Globe nominations and a Screen Actors Guild award.
As well as his role in Frasier, Mahoney starred in films such as In The Line Of Fire – opposite his close friend John Malkovich – Say Anything, Reality Bites, Primal Fear and The American President.
Since Frasier’s final episode, he went on to star opposite Gabriel Byrne in In Treatment, while he also made appearances on Hot in Cleveland and a 2015 episode of Foyle’s War.
A passage in Frasier that really defines Martin's brilliance. RIP John Mahoney. pic.twitter.com/dOkcPfK8QR
— Paul Moore (@ElChiefMoore) February 5, 2018
The dad from Frasier is dead that is SUCH a bummer. What an absolutely amazing actor.
— Carl Kinsella (@TVsCarlKinsella) February 5, 2018
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