'Frasier' star John Mahoney dies at 77, Chicago theater confirms
CHICAGO -- "Frasier" star John Mahoney has died at the age of 77, after starring in a play at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater. The theater confirmed Mahoney's death to ABC sister station WLS-TV on Monday.
The actor died Sunday in Chicago after a brief hospitalization, Paul Martino, his manager for 30 years, said. The cause of death was not immediately provided.
Mahoney, who as the cranky, blue-collar dad in "Frasier," played counterpoint to pompous sons Frasier and Niles.
Martin's beloved dog, Eddie, also took up residence to annoy Frasier, played by Kelsey Grammer.
Mahoney, a British native who made Chicago his home town, was a two-time Emmy nominee for "Frasier" and won a 1986 Tony Award for "The House of Blue Leaves."
His recent credits included a recurring role as Betty White's love interest on "Hot in Cleveland" and a 2015 episode of "Foyle's War." He was also in the Chicago play "The Rembrandt."
"I wish I could tell you how funny it is and moving - it really is," Mahoney told WLS-TV.
"It's kind of hard when you get to my age...all of a sudden you look at this page after page after page of dialogue to learn and trying to get that into your brain, it's pretty tough," Mahoney said.
In September, Mahoney told WLS-TV his future plans were to do absolutely nothing - just kicking back at his home in Oak Park.
"First of all I want to stay in Chicago. I learned my lesson about traveling with Fraser... 11 years living out of a suitcase in New York," Mahoney said. "Having the only car in the Paramount lot with an Oak Park sticker on it. I just want to be back home, be onstage where I enjoy it."
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
