‘He was my father’: Frasier’s Kelsey Grammer pays touching tribute to late co-star John Mahoney

The veteran actor died over the weekend
Tribute: Kelsey Grammer has paid tribute to late co-star John Mahoney
Channel 4
Safeeyah Kazi7 February 2018
The Weekender

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Frasier’s Kelsey Grammer has paid tribute to his late co-star John Mahoney, who has died at the 77.

The screen and voice actor received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for his portrayal of Frasier Crane’s father, Martin, in the sitcom.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Grammar said: “He was my father. I loved him.”

Janes Leeves, who played Daphne Moon on the show, described her fellow English actor as “the dearest sweetest man I have ever known.”

She told TheWrap.com: “His wicked sense of humour, 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.”

A spokesperson for Mahoney confirmed that the veteran actor had passed away in Chicago on Sunday following his time in hospice care for a “short illness”.

A family statement is set to be realised in the coming days.

The actor reportedly battled cancer multiple times, however, he highlighted that he would not let his health get in the way of his work.

At the time he said: "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."

Grammer, 62 and Mahoney worked together from 1993 until 2004.

British-born Mahoney bagged the role after making an appearance on Grammer’s previous sitcom Cheers as a jingle creator in an episode that aired in 1992.

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