William Maher Jr. was born January 20, 1956, in New York City and was subsequently raised in River Vale, New Jersey. The son of a Jewish mother and Catholic father, Maher played on this heritage heavily in his early standup routines. In light of Maher’s politically and socially satirical voice, it is little surprise he graduated in 1978 from Cornell University.
Just one year later, Maher was already hosting the comedy club Catch a Rising Star. With the support and influence of television personality and comedian Steve Allen, Maher began getting bookings for high profile appearances such as Johnny Carson’s show and later David Letterman’s show.
Searching for new avenues to explore his comedy, Maher also entered the world of film in 1983 with the tepidly received D.C. Cab. Just one in an ensemble cast, he starred along with Adam Baldwin, Mr T, Gary Busey, and Paul Rodriguez. He took many more bit parts throughout the 80s, usually in lighthearted or slapstick comedies. This included a slightly more substantial role in the campy action comedy film Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death in 1989 and the tongue in cheek political satire Pizza Man in 1991.
Maher also made notable one-episode appearances on television shows such as Married with Children opposite David Faustino, Christina Applegate, Katey Sagal, and Ed O Neill as well as Roseanne with Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, and Johnny Galecki.
However, Maher’s real break came in 1994 with the introduction of his new roundtable political and often comedic television series Politically Incorrect. The show was met with a large amount of critical acclaim, including eight consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Despite all the accolades and praise, the show never managed to dominate the ratings. It did manage to run from 1994 to 2002, and it certainly thrust Maher into the American eye.
The show, however, came to a final halt when Maher made controversial comments regarding the 9/11 attacks. He received considerable backlash for his remark, "We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly. Stupid maybe, but not cowardly."
After the last episode of Politically Incorrect, Maher decided to change networks but not subject matter. Now working with HBO, Real Time with Bill Maher began in 2003 and is currently still running. In the three years it has been on air, it has earned three consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.
Maher is also the host of the relatively new internet based talk-show Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher. The production began in 2006 and is currently still running.
Maher is most known for his outspoken views on religion, the legalization and marijuana, and of course, free speech.
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