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Frasier Crane’s TV Dad Leaves $5 Million Estate

Before he devoted more than a decade to playing the retired father of TV’s “Frasier,” John Mahoney was a well-known actor, appearing in plays and movies. The size of his estate and the expected number of beneficiaries is evidence of a life well-lived.

Frasier star John Mahoney, who battled a number of serious diseases in recent years, died in hospice in February at age 77 following a routine procedure, as reported in The Daily Mail, in “Frasier star John Mahoney ‘leaves behind $5 million-plus estate with 38 potential beneficiaries.’”

The actor was best known for his role as Marty Crane, the live-in retired father of the title character, a radio psychiatrist played by Kelsey Grammer. He had been battling lung cancer, seizures, brain disease, diabetes, and kidney disease, when he passed away, according to TMZ.

About $300,000 of his estate is in real estate, TMZ reported, citing legal documents in a probate case filed by Bernard Dowling, a friend of Mahoney’s. The potential benefactors, many of whom are the television star’s friends and family, could total nearly 40 individuals.

Mahoney was born in Blackpool, England, just nine months after Britain entered WWII. He was evacuated from Manchester as a child with his family for safety, during the attacks on Britain. He relocated to America when he was 18.
Frasier aired for 11 seasons and won Mahoney two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1998 and 2003. In 2000, the entire show’s cast earned the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Before the TV role that made him a household name,

Mahoney won a Tony Award in 1986 for his part in John Guare’s play, The House Of Blue Leaves. The versatile actor also appeared in such movies as Say Anything and Moonstruck, and frequently performed at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago.

Mahoney was fragile and was supposed to be having a routine procedure, said a friend. However, he had just beaten Stage 3 throat cancer and was just too weak in his final months.

Mahoney never married and never had any children. Based on the number of potential beneficiaries—38— it would appear that he led a full life, with many friends and family members.

Reference: The Daily Mail (March 24, 2018) “Frasier star John Mahoney ‘leaves behind $5 million-plus estate with 38 potential beneficiaries’”

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