Boasting an acute wit, a mane of gray hair and an incredulous smirk that punctuates his political punch lines, Maher has made a career out of ridiculing those in power. He spent the late '70s and early '80s honing his comedic skills on the stand-up circuit and his tenacity paid off with supporting film and TV roles, although the projects were often pretty low-rent (
D.C. Cab,
House II: The Second Story). In 1993 he launched the humorous roundtable series
Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central, which migrated to ABC in 1997. As the show's irreverent moderator, Maher was simultaneously charming and exasperating (but never dull) and often played devil's advocate to stir up his guests, which including big-name actors, journalists and politicians. His career hit a roadblock in 2002 when his series was canceled after he made some controversial comments about September 11. But the next year Maher returned to the small screen on HBO's
Real Time with Bill Maher and the host seemed more agitated — and more liberal — than ever.
Bill Maher Fast Facts:
- Began his career as a stand-up comic and hosted at New York comedy club Catch a Rising Star, which led to bookings on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
- Received the L.A. Press Club's President's Award for championing free speech shortly after his Emmy-nominated Politically Incorrect was canceled by ABC in 2002 due to comments he made about September 11.
- Penned When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism in 2002.
- In 2004, on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, both he and Fahrenheit 9/11 filmmaker Michael Moore got on their knees and begged Ralph Nader to drop out of the presidential race.
- A confirmed bachelor, Maher was hit with a $9 million palimony suit in 2004 by ex-girlfriend Nancy Johnson (a.k.a. Coco Johnsen) who alleged that he reneged on various promises including marriage, but a judge dismissed the case the next year.
- Bill Maher Relationships:
- Julie Maher - Mother
- Karinne Steffans - Ex-significant Other
- Kathy Maher - Sister
- Nancy Johnson - Ex-significant Other
- William Maher Sr. - Father
- Bill Maher Awards:
- 2004 Emmy: Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program - Nominee
- 1997 Emmy: Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program - Nominee
- 1995 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1996 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1997 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1998 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1999 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2000 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2001 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2002 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2006 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2006 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special - Nominee
- 1996 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program - Nominee
- 1997 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program - Nominee
- 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program - Nominee
- 2006 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program - Nominee
- 2007 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program - Nominee
- 2007 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special - Nominee
- 2009 Emmy: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series - Nominee
- College:
- Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (BA in English, 1978)
