Bill Maher
William Maher (/mɑːr/; born January 20, 1956)[2] is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is known for the HBO political talk show Real Time with Bill Maher (2003–present) and the similar late-night show called Politically Incorrect (1993–2002), originally on Comedy Central and later on ABC. In 2022, Maher started the podcast Club Random.[3]
For other people named Bill Maher, see Bill Maher (disambiguation).Bill Maher
William Maher[1]
January 20, 1956
New York City, U.S.
Stand-up, television, film, books, podcast
1979–present
Maher is known for his political satire[4] and sociopolitical commentary. He targets many topics including religion, political correctness, and the mass media.[5] His critical views of religion were the basis for his 2008 documentary film Religulous. He is a supporter of animal rights, having served on the board of PETA since 1997,[6] and is an advisory board member of Project Reason.[7][8] Maher supports the legalization of cannabis, serving on the advisory board of NORML.[9]
In 2005, Maher ranked at number 38 on Comedy Central's 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time.[10] He received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2010.[11] Maher has earned 41 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a win for his work as executive producer for Vice in 2014.[12] He has also received nominations for two Grammy Awards and a Tony Award.
Early life and education
Maher was born in New York City. His father, William Aloysius Maher Jr.,[1] was a network news editor and radio announcer, and his mother, Julie Maher (née Berman), was a nurse.[2] He was raised in his Irish-American father's Roman Catholic religion. Until his early teens, he was unaware that his mother, whose family was from Hungary, was Jewish.[13][14][15][16] Owing to his disagreement with the Catholic Church's doctrine about birth control, Maher's father stopped taking Maher and his sister to Catholic Mass when Maher was thirteen.[17]
Maher was raised in River Vale, New Jersey, and graduated from Pascack Hills High School in Montvale in 1974.[2][18] He then attended Cornell University, where he double-majored in English and history, and graduated in 1978.[19] Maher has said, "Selling pot allowed me to get through college and make enough money to start off in comedy."[18]
Career
Early career
Maher began his career as a comedian and actor. He was host of the New York City comedy club Catch a Rising Star in 1979. Maher began appearing on Johnny Carson's and David Letterman's shows in 1982.[20] He made limited television appearances including on Sara (1985),[21] Max Headroom (1987),[22] Murder, She Wrote (1989, 1990),[21] and Charlie Hoover (1991). His feature film debut was in D.C. Cab (1983).[21] He later appeared in Ratboy (1986),[21] House II: The Second Story (1987),[21] Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1988),[21] Newhart (1988), hosted the talk show Midnight Hour on CBS (1990) and Pizza Man (1991).[21]
Influences
Maher has said his influences include Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, Robert Klein, and George Carlin.[202][203]
Comedians who have said they were influenced by Maher include Chris Rock[204] and Seth MacFarlane.
