John Mahoney, Who Played Cranky Dad on ‘Frasier,’ Dies at 77

John Mahoney, popularly known for his role as the gruff-but-lovable Martin Crane on the television series Frasier, died last week at the age of 77. Paul Martino, Mahoney’s manager for over 30 years, said the actor passed away after a brief stay in the hospital. The cause of death was not provided. Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier Crane, Martin’s well-to-do and often arrogant son, said of Mahoney’s death: “He was my father. I loved him.”

Mahoney was born in 1940 after his pregnant mother’s evacuation to Blackpool, England. He later followed a sister to Chicago, where he fell in love with the city. In a 2015 interview, Mahoney highlighted his favorite attributes of the city he loved: “The lake, the skyline, the museums, the symphony, the lyric opera…my favorite place in the world.”

See Lynn Elber, John Mahoney, Who Played Cranky Dad on ‘Frasier,’ Dies at 77, USA Today, February 5, 2017.