Actor John Mahoney RIP

John Mahoney (top right) with cast of Frasier

The much-loved film, stage and TV actor John Mahoney died in Chicago last Sunday after a long illness. He was 77. His Catholic faith was at the centre of his life and work.

Born in Blackpool, England, in 1940, the seventh of eight children, Mahoney emigrated to America as a young man, sponsored by his sister who had married an American sailor. He served in the army, went to university, where he taught English for a time, and worked as a medical journalist before taking up acting in the 1970s.

He is best known worldwide for his role as Martin, the straight-talking retired police officer and father of Frasier and Niles Crane in the comedy show Frasier. He received two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for his performance.

Jeff Greenberg, the casting director for Frasier, said he had "not known a kinder man nor more brilliant actor".

Journalist and author Cathleen Falsani Possley has posted a long piece on John Mahoney in her Facebook page.

John told her: "I'm more spiritual than anything else, and Christianity is probably the most important facet of my life... I try to live my life in a way that is definitely spiritually based. I pray a lot. It's the first thing I do when I get up in the morning, and it's the last thing I do before I go to bed. I have a little mantra that I say probably twenty or thirty times throughout the day: 'Dear God, please help me to treat everybody-including myself-with love, respect, and dignity.' That's why it's important for me to be liked... If people like me, it means I'm treating them well and it's sort of proof that I'm doing the right thing."

Read Catherine's piece here: www.facebook.com/godgirl/posts/10155424871855819

Catherine has written a book of interviews with celebrities about their faith lives: www.amazon.com/God-Factor-Inside-Spiritual-Public/dp/0374163812