Maher, Joseph, 1933-1998

Irish-born actor Joseph Maher had a prolific and illustrious career on stage, screen and television.

Best known for his comedic work, especially in the plays of Joe Orton, he received three Tony nominations for supporting actor for SPOKESONG (1979), Tom Stoppard's NIGHT AND DAY (1980), with Maggie Smith and Orton's LOOT (1986), as well as an Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actor in 1991 for WHAT THE BUTLER SAW, also by Orton. Memorable film roles include Warren Beatty's butler in HEAVEN CAN WAIT and the bishop in SISTER ACT with Whoopi Goldberg. While he made his stage debut in Shakespeare, in later life Maher often played comic authority figures such as befuddled doctors and detectives. His television work included appearances on SEINFELD and THIRTYSOMETHING.

Irish-born actor Joseph Maher had a prolific and illustrious career on stage, screen and television. Best known for his comedic work, especially in the plays of Joe Orton, he received three Tony nominations for supporting actor for Spokesong (1979), Tom Stoppard's Night and Day (1980), with Maggie Smith and Orton's Loot (1986), as well as an Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actor in 1991 for What the Butler Saw, also by Orton. Memorable film roles include Warren Beatty's butler in Heaven Can Wait and the bishop in Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg. His television work included appearances on Seinfeld and Thirtysomething .

Joseph Sylvester Maher was born on December 29, 1933, the youngest child of Delia and Joseph Maher, a schoolteacher, in Westport, Galway, Ireland. He emigrated to Canada in 1956 and after working for an oil company became an actor rather unintentionally and without much formal training. He made his stage debut in Shakespeare and then toured with the Canadian Players for three years before making his New York debut as an IRA officer in Brendan Behan's The Hostage with Julie Harris in 1962. Other early theater credits were with Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino. In later years Maher often played comic authority figures such as befuddled doctors and detectives.

Joseph Maher was also a playwright and occasionally a director. His plays include Dance for Me, Simeon, produced in 1979 and Down All the Days . He died of a brain tumor on July 17, 1998 at the age of 64.