---
name: "Joseph Maher"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/joseph-maher"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "29 December 1933"
died: "17 July 1998"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-20T06:02:39.881184+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Joseph Maher

Actor. Born 29 December 1933 in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. Died 17 July 1998.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 29 December 1933, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland
- **Died:** 17 July 1998
- **Active:** 1978–1989
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 74 (1), 1980s 86 (2)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 2, Crime 1, Fantasy 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $99m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Maher, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1406202, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0536850/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/20626

## Streaming the US now

- **Pluto TV:** [*Heaven Can Wait*](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Joseph Maher (29 December 1933 – 17 July 1998) was an Irish character actor. Born in Westport, County Mayo, he emigrated to Canada in 1956 and began his acting career with the Canadian Players before moving to New York.

He appeared in numerous films, including *Heaven Can Wait* (1978) as Sisk, *Sister Act* (1992) as Bishop O'Hara, *In & Out* (1997) as Father Tim and *Mars Attacks!* (1996). On stage he received three Tony Award nominations for featured actor in a play, for *Spokesong* (1979), *Night and Day* (1980) and a revival of *Loot* (1986), winning a Drama Desk Award for the last of these. He was also known for his work in the comedies of Joe Orton.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Seinfeld* (1989), Fi1m 90, as Gavin Pollone — [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Moonlighting* (1985), Fi1m 82, as Jerome — [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md)
- *Heaven Can Wait* (1978), Fi1m 74, as Sisk — [page](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait.md)

## Complete filmography (61)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Out-of-Towners* (1999), as Mr. Wellstone
- *All Revved Up* (1998), as Mr. Lilly
- *Style & Substance* (1998), series, as Hadley John
- *In & Out* (1997), as Father Tim
- *Mars Attacks!* (1996), as Decorator
- *Surviving Picasso* (1996), as Kahnweiler
- *Goode Behavior* (1996), series, as Chancellor Willoughby
- *The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show* (1995), Actor
- *I.Q.* (1994), as Nathan Liebknecht
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as David Stadson, Board Member
- *Killer* (1994), as Dr. Alstricht
- *The Shadow* (1994), as Isaac Newboldt
- *Baby Brokers* (1994), as Leo
- *Partners* (1993), as Edward Hooper
- *Laurie Hill* (1992), series, as Dr. Walter Wiseman
- *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992), series, as Dr. Dorian (voice)
- *Sister Act* (1992), as Bishop O'Hara
- *The Local Stigmatic* (1990), as David
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Gavin Pollone — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Judge #1 / Judge #2 / Judge #3 (segment "Let the Punishment Fit the Crime")
- *Anything But Love* (1989), series, as Brian Allquist
- *My Stepmother Is an Alien* (1988), as Lucas Budlong
- *Funny Farm* (1988), as Michael Sinclair
- *thirtysomething* (1987), series, Actor
- *Second Chance* (1987), series, as Saint Peter
- *Bigfoot* (1987), as Jack Kendrix
- *ALF* (1986), series, as Angel Bob
- *Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp* (1986), as Sultan
- *Cinderella* (1985), as Narrator
- *Stingray* (1985), series, Actor
- *Double Dare* (1985), series, as Sylvester
- *Moonlighting* (1985), series, as Jerome — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md)
- *Frankenweenie* (1984), as Mr. Chambers
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Nigel Allison
- *The Evil That Men Do* (1984), as Dr. Clement Molloch
- *Will There Really Be a Morning?* (1983), as 1st Doctor
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Mr. Milbourne — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Little Gloria... Happy at Last* (1982), series, as Smythe
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as Sultan, Narrator (voice)
- *I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can* (1982), as Dr. Kalman
- *Under the Rainbow* (1981), as The Duke
- *Going Ape!* (1981), as Gridley
- *Those Lips, Those Eyes* (1980), as Fibby Geyer
- *Just Tell Me What You Want* (1980), as Dr. Coleson
- *My Old Man* (1979), as Phil Kiley
- *Time After Time* (1979), as Adams
- *Heaven Can Wait* (1978), as Sisk — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait.md)
- *Diary of the Dead* (1976), as Walter Johnson (as Joe Maher)
- *Wonder Woman* (1975), series, as Edgar Percy
- *Ellery Queen* (1975), series, Actor
- *When Things Were Rotten* (1975), series, as The Emissary, Eavesdropper
- *My Father's House* (1975), as Doctor
- *Forget-Me-Not Lane* (1975), as Frank
- *For Pete's Sake* (1974), as Mr. Coates
- *It Ain't Easy* (1972), as Charlie
- *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as Major Taylor — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md)
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Frank
- *The Applicant* (1967), as Mr. Graham
- *Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake* (1967), as Celebrant
- *Another World* (1964), series, Actor
- *Little Moon of Alban* (1958), as British Soldier

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1986: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1980: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1979: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/joseph-maher