John Mahoney Movies

Atlantis: Milo's Return is a direct-to-video animated sequel made up of three episodes. In the first episode, Milo (voice of James Arnold Taylor) and Queen Kida (voice of Cree Summer) find a town called Krakenstad, lead by Magistrate Edgar Volgud (voice of Clancy Brown). In the second story, the team of adventurers heads to the American Southwest to investigate a sandstorm and meet land prospector Sam McKeane (voice of Jeff Bennett). In the third episode, Whitmore (voice of John Mahoney) fights his old adversary Erik Hellstrom (voice of Morgan Sheppard). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

The ninth season of Frasier serves up the "payoff" for the setup established at the end of Season Eight. Once again, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) is stuck at a romantic crossroads, torn between his devoted lover Claire (Patricia Clarkson) and his loose-cannon high school sweetheart Lana (Jean Smart). As he thrashes out this dilemma, the viewer is treated to a fantasy sequence featuring Frasier's ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) and his former Cheers vis-à-vis Diane Chambers (welcome back, Shelley Long!) This season features the series' 200th episode, in which Frasier celebrates his 2000th broadcast as radio station KACL's resident phone-in therapist. Later, Kristin Chenoweth guest-stars as Frasier's new agent Portia Sanders, who is even more obnoxious than his former agent Bebe Glazer (Harriet Sansom Harris),if such a thing is possible. Our hero also has a run-in with Lilith's con-artist brother Blane (Michael Keaton), who claims to have turned over a new leaf and "found God". Meanwhile, Frasier's retired-cop dad Martin (John Mahoney) gets a job as night watchman, and soon has cause to regret it. Martin also tries to patch up a feud between Frasier and his neighbor Cam (Brian Stokes Mitchell) by pretending to be in love with Cam's mother Cora (Emily Yancy)--or is he just pretending? In other romantic news, the relationship between Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Daphne (Jane Leeves) reaches a new plateau when they decide to move in together--only to un-decide when Daphne's overbearing relatives show up en masse. Similarly, Niles' elaborate preparations to propose to Daphne are squelched by the omnipresence of her whining mother (Millicent Martin). Season Nine is distinguished by several of Frasier's most memorable episodes. "Three Blind Dates" features West Wing's Allison Janney as an artist who goes out with Frasier and ends up despising him. In "Deathtrap", Frasier and Niles try to solve what they think is a murder while visiting their childhood home. And best of all, "Cheerful Goodbyes" reunites Frasier with his former Cheers compadres Cliff (John Ratzenberger), Carla (Rhea Perlman) and Norm (George Wendt). The season finale finds Niles trying to reunite Daphne's estranged parents, which causes a rift between himself and Daphne--but not so big a rift that the aren't able to run off and elope rather than go through with the lavish wedding that their families have planned: an elsewhere, longtime verbal scrappers Frasier and Roz (Peri Gilpin) end up sleeping together--much to the surprise of both! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season Seven of Frasier opens as Daphne Moon (Janes Leeves), cockney caregiver for the Crane brothers' ex-cop dad Martin (John Mahoney), prepares to marry Niles' nutty lawyer Donny Douglas (Saul Rubinek)--if Martin and Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) will cease their meddling that is. Soon thereafter, Frasier's prickly producer Roz (Peri Gilpin) finds out how macho radio sports-talker Bulldog (Dan Butler) truly feels about her (truly, he'd love to feel about her--all over!); Frasier's ex Lillith (Bebe Neuwirth) and their son Frederick (Trevor Einhorn) descend upon Seattle for Thanksgiving; and, of utmost importance, Daphne's wedding plans hit a snag during the series Christmastime two-parter when it finally dawns upon her that Niles (David Hyde Pierce) is madly in love with her (funny, she's just about the only person in the solar system who hasn't already figured this out!) Also: Jean Smart makes her first appearance as Frasier's short-fused high school sweetheart Lorna Lynley (Smart would return, but her character would be rechristened Lana Gardner for legal reasons); Martin finds himself in the uncomfortable position of posing as the gay lover of his own son just to avoid meeting someone he'd rather not see; Kim Coles guest stars as Roz' temporary assistant, a woman who drives Frasier crazy by calling herself "Dr. Mary" and dispensing advice to his listeners--but whom Frasier is afraid to complain about because she is black. As the season closes, the day of the Daphne-Donny wedding arrives, and with it Daphne's overbearing mom Gertrude (Millicent Martin) and her mooching brother Simon (Anthony LaPaglia). And of course the last episode is a "cliffhanger"--and WHAT a cliffhanger, as Daphne runs away from her own wedding in the company of...aw, come on, you know who! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This season finds the Crane brothers (Kelsey Grammer as Frasier, David Hyde Pierce as Niles) in their usual competitive state, with misadventures at fancy dinners, parties, and galas occurring at an alarming rate. Perhaps the most notable development this season is Roz's (Peri Gilpin) surprise pregnancy. Her decision to keep the baby and her dilemma over whether or not to tell the father about it are prevalent throughout the entire season, which culminates in Roz giving birth at one of Frasier and Niles' parties. Martin's (John Mahoney) personal relationships are given more screen time than they've had in the past, and his sons worry about his potential marriage to Sherry (Marsha Mason), while Niles himself is still in a constant state of anxiety concerning his feelings for Daphne (Jane Leeves). ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

Firmly and comfortably ensconced in its Tuesday-night timeslot, Frasier launched its third season on NBC. The basic character lineup was carried over from the first two seasons: Seattle radio psychologist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), his brother and fellow "shrink" Niles (David Hyde Pierce), their retired policeman father Martin (John Mahoney), Martin's down-to-earth cockney caregiver Daphne Moon (Jane Reeves) -- for whom the very married Niles silently carried a torch -- and Frasier's sharp-tongued radio producer and call-screener Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin). Though Dan Butler was still receiving "special guest appearance" billing for the role of gonzo sports-show emcee Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe, the actor was methodically moving out of the recurring-character class and ever closer to "regular" status. Then, of course, there was Niles' imperious, fabulously wealthy wife Maris -- still much talked about but still never seen. Additions to the recurring cast during season three included Oscar-winning actress Mercedes Ruehl, who made a cluster of unforgettable appearances as Kate Costas, the headstrong, ratings-obsessed new manager of Frasier's home radio station KACL. The combative relationship between Frasier and Kate rather unexpectedly morphed into a torrid romance, culminating with a poignant airport farewell. Also making her earliest series appearances was Irene Olga Lopez as Marta, Maris' maid and go-between. Finally, Luke Tarsitano became the first of several young actors to essay the role of Frasier's son, Frederick. In the tradition of Kelsey Grammer's former Cheers co-stars Bebe Neuwirth and Ted Danson, Shelley Long made a return appearance as Frasier's former fiancée Diane Chambers in the episode titled "The Show Where Diane Comes Back." The hints dropped in this episode that Frasier and Diane might rekindle their romance were eclipsed by the turbulent events in the life of Frasier's brother Niles. It was during season three that Niles' marriage to Maris began to disintegrate, and also during this season Niles finally "declared" himself to Daphne in the form of a kiss (though they would not be genuine lovers for several seasons to come; Daphne was not yet about to be tied down to anyone, and Niles was still skittish about jumping into another relationship).

In what was now becoming an annual ritual, Frasier garnered several Emmy Awards during its third season. This time, the statuettes were doled out for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Comedy Series, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing, and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing (multi-camera production). The final Frasier episode of the season, "You Can't Go Home Again," offered a "prequel" to the events leading up to the first episode of season one. As a bonus, the episode ended with a roll call of all the A-list celebrities who had been heard as "guest voices" during the past three seasons, playing the various neurotics who placed calls to Frasier's radio show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Frasier marked the beginning of its second season on NBC by moving from Thursday evenings to Tuesdays, remaining in this slot for the next four years. The cast from the previous season was by now pretty well set, with only one significant addition to the roster for season two: Eric Lutes as Tom Duran, the new manager of Seattle radio station KACL, where Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) held sway as a phone-in advice show host. Otherwise, the plotlines were the mixture as before, including the erudite Frasier's shaky but affectionate relationship with his down-to-earth dad, Martin (John Mahoney), the nervous efforts by Frasier's brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) to remain in close proximity with Martin's attractive caregiver Daphne (Jane Leeves) without revealing his obsession with the girl--and without destroying his marriage to the fabulously wealthy (and still unseen) Maris. Acknowledging the excellent response to the Season One episode "The Show Where Lilith Comes Back", Kelsey Grammer's former Cheers co-star Bebe Neuwirth made a return appearance as Frasier's insufferable ex-wife, Dr. Lilith Sternin in the second-season entry "Adventures in Paradise". This two-parter concluded with the biggest surprise of the season (one that was successfully concealed from TV reviewers and industry pundits alike until the very last moment), in which Frasier's former fiancée Diane Chambers (Shelley Long, another one-time Cheers regular) popped up unannounced, much to our hero's horror. In this same "old home week" spirit, still another Cheers star, Ted Danson, guest starred in his familiar role of Sam Malone in "The Show Where Sam Shows Up." As before, a number of high-profile celebrities "appeared" on Frasier, providing the voices of Frasier's call-in listeners. This time the guest roster was an eclectic one indeed, including Tom Cruise, Art Garfunkel, Sandra Dee, Gary Sinise, Jodie Foster, and, most significantly, John Lithgow, the actor who had originally been considered for the role of Frasier Crane back in the Cheers days. Frasier added several more Emmy awards to its trophy room during season two, with stauettes going to regulars Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce, director David Lee, writers Chuck Ranberg and Anne Flett-Giordano, and the series itself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this complex, gripping made-for-TV courtroom drama, the new DA of a small town is given the job of prosecuting the alleged murderer of a stripper. Unfortunately, his own father is in charge of the defense. To make matters worse, both attorneys are in love with the wife of the accused. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

One year before he was reunited with Cheers regular Kelsey Grammer on Frasier, John Mahoney guest starred on Grammer's earlier series as Sy Flembeck, a hack songwriter hired by Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) to compose a jingle for Cheers. As for the main plot of this episode, a pregnant Maggie (Annie Golden) returns and insists that Cliff (John Ratzenberger) is her baby's father. Meanwhile, mercurial ex-convict Andy (Derek McGrath) pops up at the bar, looking for the long-departed Diane Chambers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Alan Bates stars as Hamish Partt an alcoholic writer in the made-for-TV Unnatural Pursuits. Simon Gray's teleplay contrives to have Partt begin singing boisterously whenever confronted by a crisis. This occurs quite often as the playwright follows the progress of his latest work, from rehearsal to debut to worldwide tour. His experiences range from the tragic to the comic, and he emerges from his odyssey a changed man. This BBC production co-stars Bob Balaban, John Maloney, and Sara Mansfield in an effective bit as a video-store clerk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Set in Iowa, Betrayed stars Debra Winger as an FBI agent who infiltrates a Klanlike white supremacist organization. Allegedly a woman of intelligence and perception, Winger throws caution and logic to the winds when she falls in love with local farmer Tom Berenger. Much to her surprise Berenger turns out to be the most rabid racist of all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Target: Favorite Son is the 115-minute abridgement of the three-part TV miniseries Favorite Son. Adapted by Steve Sohmer from his own novel, the film stars Harry Hamlin as a freshman senator from Texas who has "greatness thrust upon him" when he is accidentally shot during the assassination of a visiting Nicaraguan contra leader. Almost as if rehearsed, Hamlin delivers an impassioned pro-contra speech--all of which is seen on live TV. Upon recovering, Hamlin is selected by his party to run for the Vice President's post. Meanwhile, FBI agent Robert Loggia investigates the assassination, and what he discovers could--to reuse the cliché--blow Washington DC wide open. Featured in the cast is James Whitmore as the President, whose political enemies do their best to hound out of office so that the supposedly honest-and-aboveboard Hamlin can assume the Presidency. At the time of its first telecast, Favorite Son received a great deal of press play due to a scene wherein Linda Koslowski, playing the ambitious, oversexed mistress of Hamlin's press aide, strips to bra and panties and asks one of her boss' assistants (Lance Guest) to tie her up. Nothing further is shown, of course, but this tiny, almost missable scene ended up as the focal point of the entire series, so long as the clean-up-TV brigades were concerned. Favorite Son originally aired October 30 and 31, and November 1, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

First Steps was inspired by a widely-seen, enthusiastically received 1982 piece on 60 Minutes. Amy Steel plays Nan Davis, a young woman totally paralyzed in an auto accident. Judd Hirsch costars as Dr. Jerold Petrovsky, a bioengineer who attaches computerized electrodes to Nan to enable her to reclaim her muscle power. After many torturous months, this state-of-art physical therapy works magnificently, and Nan is able to take ten steps on her own at her college graduation. While the technique was still rather controversial at the time First Steps was telecast, there was no denying that it had worked in the case of Nan Davis, who eventually became the subject of two 60 Minutes follow-ups and reams of upbeat magazine articles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide