Co-stars and colleagues of John Mahoney paid tribute to the “Frasier” star, who died on Sunday at age 77.
John Cusack, who appeared alongside Mahoney in the 1989 film “Say Anything” called Mahoney a “great actor” and “lovely, kind human.” “Any time you saw him you left feeling better,” Cusack wrote on Twitter.
Great actor – lovely kind human -any time you saw him you left feeling better – RIP John … https://t.co/jHXPHm1dEb
— John Cusack (@johncusack) February 5, 2018
“Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer said in a statement, “He was my father. I loved him.”
Co-star Peri Gilpin shared a picture of Mahoney singing at her wedding.
John singing at my wedding. Watch Moonstruck, Say Anything and/or Frasier or anything you can with him in it and raise a glass to John. Remember him well. pic.twitter.com/Tj3i5B4x13
— Peri Gilpin (@GilpinPeri) February 6, 2018
Producer Greg Berlanti posted a series of tweets detailing how supportive Mahoney was of him as a first-time director while they worked together on “The Broken Hearts Club.”
“He never wavered in his belief in me — as a first time director. And he was even more kind than he was brilliant,” Berlanti wrote. “I’ve been blessed in my life but can’t imagine a greater blessing than to work with someone as wonderful as John at the start of my career.”
Devastated by the loss of John Mahoney who was so kind and supportive of me early in my career when we made The Broken Hearts Club…
— Love, Greg (@GBerlanti) February 6, 2018
John helped get it greenlit. He never wavered in his belief in me — a first time director. And he was even more kind than he was brilliant.
— Love, Greg (@GBerlanti) February 6, 2018
I’ve been blessed in my life but can’t imagine a greater blessing than to work with someone as wonderful as John at the start of my career
— Love, Greg (@GBerlanti) February 6, 2018
He set a standard and an example of how talent and warmth and generosity of spirit can all exist in one person.
— Love, Greg (@GBerlanti) February 6, 2018
Casting director Jeff Greenberg wrote, “The great John Mahoney passed away today at age 77. I’ve not known a kinder man nor more brilliant actor. We were all blessed to have spent 11 glorious years together.”
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The great John Mahoney passed away today at age 77. I've not known a kinder man nor more brilliant actor. We were all blessed to have spent 11 glorious years together. pic.twitter.com/hn3SZwuEy4
— Jeff Greenberg (@JeffGreenbergCD) February 5, 2018
Actor Titus Welliver wrote that the news left him feeling “gutted.” “John Mahoney has left. His kindness,friendship and of course his incredible body of work will never be forgotten. We are fewer,” he wrote.
Gutted. John Mahoney has left. His kindness,friendship and of course his incredible body of work will never be forgotten. We are fewer
— TitusWelliver (@welliver_titus) February 5, 2018
Ken Jeong and Michael McKean both praised Mahoney’s work, singling out his role in “Say Anything.”
Rest In Peace, John Mahoney. "Say Anything" is one of my favorite films of all time.
— Ken Jeong (@kenjeong) February 5, 2018
So sorry to hear of John Mahoney's passing. Met him once at Steppenwolf (brilliant in The Seafarer), got a chance to praise his work in Say Anything, et al. RIP.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) February 5, 2018
Writer Yashar Ali wrote on Twitter than Mahoney lived down the street from his parents in suburban Chicago. “I can’t begin to describe how kind he was in a 280 character tweet. A wonderful man has passed away at 77 which seems far too young in this case.”
John Mahoney lived down the street from my parents in suburban Chicago. I ran into him more times than I can count…I can’t begin to describe how kind he was in a 280 character tweet. A wonderful man has passed away at 77 which seems far too young in this case. pic.twitter.com/QThy1VHLXT
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 5, 2018
See more reactions below:
I was so honored to work with the legendary John Mahoney on “The Broken Heart’s Club.” I was so nervous because “Say Anything” is one of my favorite films ever. He could not have been a kinder man. #RIPJohnMahoney pic.twitter.com/DFp8Dpj6uz
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) February 6, 2018
💔
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) February 5, 2018
Oh no. So sad. He was a great https://t.co/Zh0oAeqNbm
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 5, 2018
More bad news. Loved him in Frasier.
— John Challis (@BeingBoycie) February 5, 2018
That’s so sad. Frasier was such a wonderful series & John Mahoney helped root it in reality. Thanks for so much pleasure. RIP. https://t.co/rCFIpKvh3c
— Gyles Brandreth (@GylesB1) February 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/JohnRossBowie/status/960667749759397889
John Mahoney. The perfect comic actor because you saw no acting. What a legacy: the argument with Frasier when they act Jewish, saying “love ya” to his mate but not his kids, the Daphne impression etc etc. Genius. RIP.
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) February 5, 2018
