Statement from GIAF on the Death of the Actor John Mahoney

6 February 2018

It was with huge regret that Galway International Arts Festival learned of the death of our dear friend and colleague, the actor John Mahoney last night, 5 February 2018.

John performed many times at the festival, making his Galway debut in Long Day's Journey Into Night in 2000. He returned to the festival over the years, with both Steppenwolf, where he began his career, and in recent years with Northlight Theater, most memorably in Bruce Graham's The Outgoing Tide, where he played an older man battling the onset of Alzheimer’s starring opposite Rondi Reed.

The late John Mahoney and his The Outgoing Tide co-star Rondi Reed pictured in Galway during Galway Arts Festival 2012.

Artistic Director of GIAF Paul Fahy commented, "We were shocked and saddened to hear of John Mahoney’s passing. He was one of the best actors to grace the stage. He made everything seem effortless; it was like watching a master class every time. While he was hugely celebrated for his onscreen roles in Moonstruck, Say Anything, Primal Fear and most notably TV’s Frasier, he remained a true man of the theatre.

Galway International Arts Festival CEO John Crumlish, Rondi Reed, Galway International Arts Festival Artistic Director Paul Fahy and the late John Mahoney pictured in Galway during Galway Arts Festival 2012.

"John was last in Galway in 2014 for the festival's co-production with Northlight of Chapatti by Christian O'Reilly, directed by BJ Jones. He was on stage at Steppenwolf in Chicago as recently as last October in The Rembrandt, which, regrettably, was to be his final role. What a wonderful, sweet and gentle man he was. He was impossible not to love and a pleasure to know. We will miss him very much."

The late John Mahoney speaking to the Galway International Arts Festival in 2014 about the Northlight and GIAF co-production Chapatti by Christian O'Reilly.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.