Kelsey Grammer Reveals How Frasier Revival Will Honor The Late John Mahoney

Kelsey Grammer is discussing how the revival of Frasier will address the passing of cast member John Mahoney, who played Frasier's father Martin Crane.

By Vic Medina | Published

Kelsey Grammer is reviving Frasier for Paramount+, but the cast will be short one key member: John Mahoney, who played Frasier’s father Martin Crane in the series’ original run of 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004. His cantankerous character was a highlight of the series, and earned him two Emmy nominations, but he sadly passed away from complications of lung cancer and brain disease in 2018. According to a report by Deadline, the series will address Mahoney’s passing, which will affect the series in a big way, as Frasier will start a new chapter in his life in a new city.

“His loss is and was devastating and must be given the proper attention in honor of the extraordinary man he was,” Grammer said. “We will most certainly be honoring him according to his merit.”

Kelsey Grammer has said filming on the series is expected to start this fall, as early as October, although a premiere date for the show has not been set. He also stressed the new Frasier will not be a reboot, but a true sequel that follows the psychiatrist into the next chapter in his life. The entire Frasier series is available to view on Paramount+, which remains popular in syndicated reruns nearly 20 years after it left the air.

In addition to Mahoney’s absence, the new Frasier will be much different from the original: Kelsey Grammer will be the only original cast member to appear regularly. Fellow Frasier regulars David Hyde Pierce (who played brother Niles Crane), Jane Leeves (who played Martin’s live-in nurse Daphne Moon), and Peri Gilpin (who played Frasier’s co-worker Roz Doyle) will appear in the show, but only as guest stars, which is likely disappointing news to long-time fans of the show that were hoping to see the original cast’s amazing chemistry at work once again.

kelsey grammer
Kelsey Grammer in Boss (2011)

John Mahoney actually has a connection to Kelsey Grammer before Frasier: he appeared in a 1992 episode of Cheers as a frustrated musician trying to write a jingle for the bar. He and Grammer share a scene and dialogue, and producers took note of him and cast him as Frasier’s father when the spinoff went into production. The former college English professor took up acting at middle age, and his career, while focused mostly on the stage, included a number television and film appearances, including 3rd Rock From The Sun, The American President, Moonstruck, In the Line of Fire, and Say Anything.

Kelsey Grammer has had a busy and successful career in his post-Frasier years. His television appearances include Hank, 30 Rock, Boss, and his infamous role as Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons. His film appearances include playing Beast (Hank McCoy) in X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days if Future Past, Transformers: Age of Extinction, and The Expendables 3.

Kelsey Grammer’s Grammnet NH Productions will produce the show for CBS Studios, and he will serve as one of the executive producers. A new writing team will handle the Frasier revival, including Chris Harris (How I Met Your Mother) and Joe Cristalli (Life In Pieces).