Bill Maher Biography (1956-)

Surname is pronounced "mar"; full name, William Maher; born January 20, 1956,in New York, NY; raised in River Vale, NJ; son of Bill (a radio announcer and network news editor) and Julie (a nurse; maiden name, Berman) Maher. Addresses: Agent: Steve Lashever, Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212; (personal appearances) Jackie Miller, Agency forthe Performing Arts, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90069.; Manager: Marc Gurvitz, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, 9150 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Publicist: PYR Public Relations, 139 SouthBeverly Dr., Suite 230, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Web.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, comedian, writer, producer
Birth Details: January 20, 1956; New York, New York, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Appearances
Series
Marty Lang, Sara, NBC, 1985
Host, The Midnight Hour, CBS, 1990
Elliot, Charlie Hoover, Fox, 1991-92
Host, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (also known as Politically Incorrect), Comedy Central, 1993-96, ABC, 1997-2002
Host, Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO, 2003-
Miniseries
(In archive footage) Mouthing Off: 51 Greatest Smartasses, ComedyCentral, 2004
(In archive footage) 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time (also known as Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time), Comedy Central, 2004
Movies
Rick, Club Med, ABC, 1986
Maxwell "Max" Taylor, Out of Time, NBC, 1988
Specials
The Eighth Annual Young Comedians Show, HBO, 1983
Gower Rhodes, Hard Knocks (also known as Play "Mr. Tambourine Man" for Me), Showtime, 1987
Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville, ABC, 1987
Himself, Election Night Live 1992 (also known as Comedy Central's "Election Night Live 1992"), Comedy Central, 1992
Host, Say What?, CBS, 1992
"We're Mad as Hell Hosted by Dennis Miller," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO,1992
Indecision '92, Comedy Central, 1992
But ... Seriously, Showtime, 1994
Comic Relief VI, HBO, 1994
State of the Union Undressed '94, Comedy Central, 1994
"Bill Maher: Stuff That Struck Me Funny," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1995
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, HBO, 1995
Anchor, Indecision '96: The Democratic National Convention, ComedyCentral, 1996
Anchor, Indecision '96: The Republican National Convention, ComedyCentral, 1996
Host, Setting the Agenda: Indecision '96, Comedy Central, 1996
Catch a Rising Star 50th Anniversary--Give or Take 26 Years, CBS,1996
Comedy Club Superstars, ABC, 1996
State of the Union Undressed '96, Comedy Central, 1996
Host, Politically Incorrect's "Greatest Hits with Bill Maher," ABC, 1997
Host, Steve Allen's 75th Birthday Celebration, PBS, 1997
Bill Maher: The Golden Goose Special, HBO, 1997
50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997
A Gala for the President at Ford's Theatre, ABC, 1997
Host, M*A*S*H, Tootsie & God: A Tribute to Larry Gelbart, PBS,1998
Sex with Cindy Crawford, ABC, 1998
Mediator and host, Politically Incorrect After Party Presented by Pepsi, ABC, 1999
E! Rack-n-Roll: Behind the Scenes, E! Entertainment Television, 1999
Fall in Love with a Stranger, PAX TV, 1999
The Great American History Quiz, History Channel, 1999
NFL All-Star Blitz, CBS, 1999
Host, The Politically Incorrect After Party, ABC, 2000
Bill Maher: Be More Cynical, HBO, 2000
The Great American History Quiz: Pursuit of Happiness, History Channel, 2000
Himself, VH1 News Special: Islamabad Rock City, VH1, 2001
Host, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher After Party, ABC, 2001
The College of Comedy with Alan King III, PBS, 2001
Himself, Heroes of Black Comedy, Comedy Central, 2002
Himself, Inside the Playboy Mansion, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
(In archive footage) Hello, He Lied, & Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches, American Movie Classics, 2002
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Bravo, 2002
Presenter, VH1 Big in '03, VH1, 2003
Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home, HBO, 2003
Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration, Arts and Entertainment, 2003
Uncensored Comedy: That's Not Funny, Trio, 2003
Himself, Choose or Lose Presents: The Best Place to Start, MTV, 2004
Himself, Escape to Canada, Documentary Channel, 2004
Himself, When Stand-Up Comics Ruled the World, VH1, 2004
Comedy Central's Bar Mitzvah Bash!, Comedy Central, 2004
(In archive footage) 101 Biggest Celebrity Oops, E! EntertainmentTelevision, 2004
Also appeared in The Tonight Show Anniversary Show, NBC.
Awards Presentations
The 11th Annual CableACE Awards, multiple channels, 1990
Host, The 16th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1995
The 17th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1995
Host, The 1996 Clio Awards, Fox, 1996
Presenter, The 1996 Emmy Awards, ABC, 1996
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1996
Presenter, The 11th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1997
Presenter, The 19th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1997
Presenter, The 23rd Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1997
Host, The 1998 Genesis Awards, Animal Planet, 1998
Presenter, TV Guide Awards, Fox, 1999
Presenter, The 26th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 1999
Presenter, The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 2000
Presenter, The Second Annual TV Guide Awards, Fox, 2000
Presenter, The 28th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 2001
The 2001 Genesis Awards, Animal Planet, 2001
The 2001 TV Guide Awards, Fox, 2001
Host, The Seventh Annual Critics Choice Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2002

Presenter, The 29th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 2002
Episodic
Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, multiple appearances, beginning 1982
Officer Gary Conroy, "Vera's Anniversary Blues," Alice, CBS, 1984
Himself, Our Time, NBC, 1985
Guest, Late Night with David Letterman, multiple appearances, 1986-99
Haskel, "Whackets," Max Headroom, Cinemax and ABC, 1987
Norm Murphy, "The Buck Stops Here," Newhart, CBS, 1988
Rick Rivers, "Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble," Murder, She Wrote, CBS,1989
One Night Stand, HBO, 1989, 1992
Frank Albertson, "Good-Bye Charlie," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1990
"Comic Strip Live on Campus," Comic Strip Live, 1990
London Underground, Comedy Central, 1991
The A-List, Comedy Central, 1992
Adam, "You Can't Miss," Married ... with Children, Fox, 1993
Bob, "It Was Twenty Years Ago Today," Roseanne, ABC, 1993
Mr. Lorre, "Strike," The Jackie Thomas Show, ABC, 1993
Guest, "Freedom of Speech," Dennis Miller Live, HBO, 1995
Voice, Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist (animated), Comedy Central, 1995
Himself, "Mr. Montgomery Goes to Washington," Dharma & Greg, ABC, 1997
Himself, "The Roast," The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1997
Himself, "One Wedding and Val's Funeral," V.I.P. (also known as V.I.P.--Die Bodyguards), syndicated, 1998
Guest, "Drugs," Dennis Miller Live, HBO, 1998
Celebrity square, Hollywood Squares, syndicated, 1998
Sin City Spectacular (also known as Penn & Teller's "Sin City Spectacular"), 1998
Guest, Howard Stern, E! Entertainment Television, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Himself, "Higher Calling," Snoops, ABC, 1999
Himself, "Politically Impolite," Brother's Keeper, ABC, 1999
Himself, "Politically Incorrect," Spin City (also known as Spin), ABC, 1999
Guest, The Martin Short Show, syndicated, 1999
Guest, The View, ABC, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Guest, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1999, 2004
Himself, "Adam West: Behind the Cowl," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
Guest, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, multiple appearances,beginning 2001
Himself, "Penetration Island," Son of the Beach, F/X, 2002
Guest, "Freedom of Speech," Dennis Miller Live, HBO, 2002
Guest, Mohr Sports, 2002
Himself, "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons," The Greatest, 2003
Guest, Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, 2004
Guest, Larry King Live, Cable News Network, 2004
Guest, Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC, 2004
Guest, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS, 2004
Guest, Mad TV, Fox, 2004
Guest, The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, 2004
Guest, Steve Harvey's "Big Time Challenge" (also known as Big Time and Steve Harvey's "Big Time"), The WB, 2004
Himself, Hannity & Colmes, Fox News, 2005
Himself, Tavis Smiley, PBS, 2005
Also appeared in Ally McBeal, Fox; The Bob Monkhouse Show; The Merv Griffin Show, NBC, syndicated, and CBS; Pros & Cons, Court TV; Steve Allen's Music Room; and Weakest Link, NBC.
Pilots
Freddie, Rags to Riches (also known as Foley and The Girls fromSt. Mags), 1986
Host, You!, Fox, 1999
Primetime Glick, Comedy Central, 2001
Television Work
Series
Editor, Fame, Fortune, and Romance, ABC, 1986
Creator and executive producer (with Scott Carter), Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (also known as Politically Incorrect), ComedyCentral, 1993-96, ABC, 1997-2002
Executive producer, Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO, 2003-
Television Executive Producer
Specials
"Bill Maher: Stuff That Struck Me Funny," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1995
Bill Maher: The Golden Goose Special, HBO, 1997
(And creator) Politically Incorrect's "Greatest Hits with Bill Maher," ABC, 1997
(And creator) Politically Incorrect After Party Presented by Pepsi, ABC, 1999
Bill Maher: Be More Cynical, HBO, 2000
(And creator) The Politically Incorrect After Party, ABC, 2000
(And creator) Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher After Party, ABC, 2001
Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home, HBO, 2003
Pilots
You!, Fox, 1999
Film Appearances
Bill (some sources cite Baba), D.C. Cab (also known as Street Fleet), Universal, 1983
Party guest, Ratboy, Warner Bros., 1986
John, House II: The Second Story, New World, 1987
Jim, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (also known asJungle Heat and Piranha Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death),Guacamole, 1989
Elmo Bunn, Pizza Man, Jonathan F. Lawton, 1991
Bimbo Movie Bash, Amazing Fantasy Entertainment, 1997
Himself, Primary Colors (also known as Perfect Couple and Mit aller Macht), Universal, 1998
Host, EDtv (also known as Ed TV), Universal 1999
Himself, Last Party (documentary; also known as The Party's Over), Film Movement, 2001
(Uncredited) Carlos, Tomcats, Columbia, 2001
Himself, John Q., New Line Cinema, 2002
Himself, Earthlings (documentary), 2003
Himself, Stupidity (documentary), Trailervision, 2003
Himself, Is It True What They Say about Ann? (short documentary film), DVD International, 2004
Himself, The Aristocrats, ThinkFilm, 2005
Himself, Inside Deep Throat (documentary), Universal, 2005
Stage Appearances
Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home (solo show), Virginia Theatre,New York City, 2003
Hollywood Hell House, Los Angeles production, 2004
Also appeared in Seymour Glick Is Alive but Sick.
Major Tours
Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home (solo show), U.S. cities, 2002
Radio Appearances
Episodic
Guest, The Howard Stern Radio Show, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
RECORDINGS
Albums
Political Incorrections, c. 1997
Reader, When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden, New Millennium Audio, 2003
Videos
Nothin' Goes Right (also known as Rodney Dangerfield: Nothin' Goes Right), 1988
Video Games
Member of comics table, Don't Quit Your Day Job, 1996
WRITINGS
Teleplays
Series
(With others) Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (also known asPolitically Incorrect), Comedy Central, 1993-96, ABC, 1997-2002
Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO, 2003-
Specials
"Bill Maher: Stuff That Struck Me Funny," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1995
Bill Maher: The Golden Goose Special, HBO, 1997
Politically Incorrect After Party Presented by Pepsi, ABC, 1999
Bill Maher: Be More Cynical, HBO, 2000
Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher After Party, ABC, 2001
Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home, HBO, 2003
Pilots
You!, Fox, 1999
Writings for the Stage
Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home (solo show; based on the book When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government SHOULD BeTelling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism), tour of U.S. cities, 2002, then Virginia Theatre, New York City, 2003
Writings
Other
True Story: A Comedy Novel, Random House, 1994
Does Anyone Have a Problem with That? Politically Incorrect's GreatestHits, Villard Books, 1996
When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government SHOULD Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism (posters and essays),New Millennium, 2002
Contributor to periodicals, including Entertainment Weekly, LosAngeles Times, Newsday, New York Post, People Weekly, Playboy, San Francisco Chronicle, TV Guide, Village Voice, and Washington Post.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 56, Gale, 2004

Periodicals

Austin-American Statesman, November 15, 2004
Details, Volume 15, number 6, 1996, pp. 120-22, 127, 182
Los Angeles, February, 1996, p. 60
Mother Jones, January/February, 1998, p. 67
People Weekly, August 7, 2000, p. 24
Playboy, August, 1997, p. 51
Rolling Stone, March 21, 1996, p. 109; April 15, 1999, pp. 57-59
TV Guide, April 6, 1996, pp. 38-41; February 8, 1997, p. 30; February 16, 2002, pp. 24-26, 59; June 22, 2002, p. 3
U.S. News & World Report, January 20, 1997, p. 59

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