Actor John Mahoney, who helped anchor the NBC hit comedy Frasier, died Sunday at the age of 77, TMZ reports. He was in hospice care in Chicago when he passed.
Mahoney was best known for playing Martin Crane, the father of Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce), for 11 seasons on the Cheers spin-off. Martin was a retired police officer who lived with Frasier. The role earned Mahoney two Emmy award nominations, one each in 1999 and 2003, and helped contribute to Frasier's impressive 108 Emmy nominations.
Mahoney most recently appeared in a multi-episode arc on TVLand's Hot in Cleveland, as well as Burn Notice and In Treatment. On the film side, Mahoney starred in The Iron Giant, Eight Men Out and Tin Men.
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When TV Guide spoke to Grammer last year, the veteran actor revealed an interesting bit of behind-the-scenes trivia about Mahoney. Though Martin was incredibly friendly furry costar Eddie the dog in the show, Grammer said the dog that played Eddie would frequently bite Mahoney.
"Mahoney hated him," Grammer said.
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