Kelsey Grammer paid tribute Tuesday to his Frasier co-star John Mahoney who died Monday in a Chicago hospital.
In a brief statement, Grammer, 62, said: ‘He was my father. I loved him.’
The two worked together from 1993 to 2004 on the hugely popular sitcom with Mahoney playing Marty Crane, the somewhat cantankerous father of Seattle psychiatrist and radio host Frasier.
‘He was my father. I loved him’: In a brief statement Tuesday, Kelsey Grammer, 62, paid tribute to his Frasier co-star John Mahoney who died Monday age 77. They’re pictured in 2002
Famous roles: Grammer and Mahoney starred as Frasier and Marty Crane starred on the hit NBC series from 1993 to 2004
The England-born Mahoney got the role after making an appearance on Grammer’s previous sitcom Cheers as a jingle creator in an episode from the show’s 11th and final season in 1992.
He passed away from complications due to cancer. He was 77.
Jane Leeves, the English actress who played Daphne Moon on the NBC show, described her fellow countryman as ‘the dearest sweetest man I have ever known.’
She told TheWrap.com: ‘His wicked sense of humor, usually whispered in your ear or spoken just loud enough that only you could hear could bring you to tears. And his smile. Oh my god. He was lit from within.’
‘How lucky I am to have had him in my life. I loved him so much and will miss him so terribly.’
Mahoney was godfather to her son and the two reunited on screen in TVLand’s Hot In Cleveland from 2011 to 2014.
The way they were: Mahoney played Marty Crane, the somewhat cantankerous father of Seattle psychiatrist and radio host Frasier, and Niles, played by David Hyde Pierce. The cast also included Peri Gilpin as radio producer Roz, Dan Butler as radio personality ‘Bulldog’ and Janes Leeves as Marty’s caretaker Daphne Moon
After Frasier ended, Mahoney revealed he kept in constant touch with Leeves, Peri Gilpin who played Roz and David Hyde Pierce who played his other son Niles.
He was not in frequent contact with Grammer, however, saying the actor ‘is so busy.’
‘But it’s always a pleasure when we do finally meet up or call each other,’ he added.
Gilpin took to Twitter to pay tribute to Mahoney asking fans to ‘raise a glass to him’ and ‘remember him well.’
Farewell performance: Mahoney made his home in Oak Park, Illinois, where he was a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. His last role was on stage last fall in a production of The Rembrandt, pictured
Mahoney, who moved to the U.S. as a teen with his sister who was a war bride, made his home in Oak Park, Illinois and was a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company for almost 40 years.
He was twice diagnosed with cancer during his career and twice beat the disease, something he was very proud of.
In a final interview a few months before his death he said he thought his love of acting is what helped him through.
He was first diagnosed with colon cancer in the mid-1980s and then with throat cancer in 2014.
In an interview with Fox last October, he explained: ‘I refused to yield to it because I love what I’m doing so much. And I refuse to sit at home and feel sorry for myself. Instead, I just want to get out there and do another job.’
His last role turned out to be on stage in The Rembrandt for Steppenwolf.
His friend Anna Shapiro said he was ‘fragile,’ at the time of his death.
‘He was supposed to be having a routine procedure. But having just beat stage three throat cancer, I think he was just too weak,’ she said.
After Frasier ended, Mahoney revealed he kept in constant touch with Leeves, Gilpin andHyde Pierce. He was not in frequent contact with Grammer, however, saying the actor ‘is so busy.’