Maher was born in New York City, the son of Julie (née Berman), a nurse, and William Maher, Sr., a network news editor and radio announcer. He was raised in his Irish American father's Catholic religion, remaining unaware that his mother was Jew until his early teenage years. He subsequently has self-identified himself as ethnically half-Jewish. Maher's family stopped attending church services when Maher was thirteen, due to his father's disagreement with the Catholic Church's position on birth control.

Maher was raised in River Vale, New Jersey, and graduated from Pascack Hills High School in Montvale. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English and History from Cornell University in 1978.

Maher began his career as a stand-up comedian and actor, and he continues to act and tour occasionally. He was host of the New York City comedy club Catch a Rising Star in 1979. Thanks to Steve Allen, he began appearing on Johnny Carson's and David Letterman's shows in 1982. He made limited television appearances, including two separate appearances on Murder, She Wrote ... notably, as Maher likes to point out, as two different characters. He has also appeared in several films, usually in a comic role. His feature film debut was in D.C. Cab (1983), and he has also appeared in Ratboy (1986), Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1988), and Pizza Man (1991), among others.

Politically Incorrect

Maher rose to prominence as the host of Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, a late-night political talk show that ran from 1993-1997 on Comedy Central and later on ABC, until it was ultimately cancelled in June 2002. The show typically began with a topical monologue from Maher preceding the introduction of four guests, usually a diverse group of individuals from show business, popular culture, political pundits, political consultants, authors, and occasionally news figures. The group would then discuss topical issues selected by Maher, who, too, actively participated in discussions. Jerry Seinfeld, a regular guest on the show, stated that Politically Incorrect reminded him of talk shows from the 1950s and 60s "when guests interacted with eachother as much as with the host." Maher has described the show as "The McLaughlin group on acid."

Politically Incorrect has won an array of awards, including an Emmy Award for Oustanding Technical Direction, two CableACE awards for Best Talk Show Series, and a Genesis Award for Best Television Talk Show. Maher has earned numerous award nominations for his producing, writing and hosting of Politically Incorrect, including ten Emmy nominations, two TV Guide nominations, and two Writers Guild nominations.

ABC decided against renewing Maher's contract for Politically Incorrect in 2002, after he made a controversial on-air remark shortly after the September 11th attacks, whereby he agreed with his guest, conservative pundit Dinesh D'Souza, that the 9/11 terrorists did not act in a cowardly manner. Maher replied, "We have been the cowards. Lobbing cruise missiles from two thousand miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building. Say what you want about it. Not cowardly. You're right." Maher later clarified that his comment was not anti-military in any way whatsoever, referencing his well-documented longstanding support for the American military.

In the context of the sensitive aftermath of the attacks, such a remark was deemed too controversial for some corporate advertisers. Although some pundits, including conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, came to Maher's defense in pointing out the distinction between physical and moral cowardice, several companies including FedEx and Sears Roebuck pulled their advertisement from the show, costing the show more than it returned. Ari Fleischer, the then White House Press Secretary for the Bush Administration, addressed the issue in response to a reporter's question about Maher's remark during a daily press briefing: "...they're reminders to all Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do. This is not a time for remarks like that..."

The show was finally cancelled on June 16, 2002, despite the fact that the Sinclair Broadcast Group had dropped the show from its ABC affiliated stations months prior. On June 22, 2002, just six days after the cancellation of Politically Incorrect, Maher received the President's Award (for "championing free speech") from the Los Angeles Press Club. Maher has also sat on the board of judges for the PEN/Newman's Own First Amendment Award.

Maher's remarks on the cowardice of terrorists was not the first time he had sparked controversy on Politically Incorrect. In the same year, Maher was widely criticized for comparing dogs to retarded children: "But I've often said that if I had ... I have two dogs ... if I had two retarded children, I'd be a hero. And yet the dogs, which are pretty much the same thing. What? They're sweet. They're loving. They're kind, but they don't mentally advance at all.... Dogs are like retarded children." When another guest told him that her nephew was retarded and that she didn't think of him as a dog, he responded with "Maybe you should." He later apologized, stating "I make no excuses. I was wrong and what I said was hurtful to people and I feel terrible about it."

Real Time with Bill Maher

In 2003, Maher became the host, co-producer and co-writer of Real Time with Bill Maher, a weekly hour-long political comedy talk show on the cable television network HBO. During an interview, Maher told Terry Gross (on NPR's Fresh Air) that he much prefers having more serious and well-informed guests on his program, as opposed to the random celebrities that fleshed out his roundtable discussions on Politically Incorrect.

As with his previous show, Politically Incorrect, Maher begins Real Time with a comic opening monologue based upon current events and other topical issues. Unlike his previous show, however, Maher proceeds to a one-on-one interview with a guest, either in-studio or via satellite. Following the interview, Maher sits down with three panelists, usually consisting of pundits, authors, activists and journalists, for a discussion of the week's events. In the segment New Rules at the end of each show, Maher delivers a humorous editorial on popular culture and American politics.

In late May 2005, Alabama Congressman Spencer Bachus sent a letter to Time Warner's board of directors requesting Real Time be canceled after remarks Maher made about the military missing its recruiting goals by 42 percent. Maher had commented that, "more people joined the Michael Jackson fan club. We've done picked all the low-lying Lynndie England fruit, and now we need warm bodies." Bachus felt the comments were demeaning to the military and treasonous. Maher responded by reiterating his highest regard and support for the troops and asking why the Congressman criticized him instead of actually doing something about the problem.

Real Time has earned widespread praise. It has been nominated for more than ten Primetime Emmy Awards and six Writer's Guild awards. In 2007, Maher and his co-producers were awarded the Television Producer of the Year Award in Variety Television. Larry King has called Real Time "one of the best shows on television."

In early 2006, Real Time was released as an audio CD, along with another CD entitled Bill Maher's New Rules which features clips, segments and teasers from Real Time. Starting with Episode 67 (2-23-06) Real Time became available in the USA on iTunes as a free weekly audio podcast.

Political commentator

Maher is a frequent commentator on various cable news networks, namely CNN, MSNBC, and HLN.

Maher hosted the January 13, 2006 edition of Larry King Live, on which he is a frequent guest. Maher also appeared as a special guest on the June 29, 2010 edition of the show, on which veteran CNN anchor Larry King announced his retirement.

Maher regularly appears on CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and is also a frequent guest on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, The Rachel Maddow Show and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Maher has also appeared as a guest on HLN's The Joy Behar Show.

Since May 2005, he has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

Other

In 1997, during filming of an episode of the game show Pictionary, Erik Estrada accidentally punched Maher in the face in a moment of exuberance.

On May 3, 2005, while appearing as a guest on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Maher made controversial remarks about Michael Jackson's alleged child molestation behavior. He spoke about the lack of perspective when thinking about crimes and criminals. He noted it was only alleged that Michael Jackson "serviced" the children and not the other way around, but called it "just plain wrong." After a response from Ferguson, Maher said "Very wrong. But, you know, I remember when I was a kid. I was savagely beaten once by bullies in the schoolyard. Savagely beaten. If I had a choice between being savagely beaten and being gently masturbated by a pop star. It’s just me." Ferguson responded, "The always controversial Bill Maher, everybody," and introduced his next guest.

Politics

Maher has described himself as a libertarian and believes that, "government is really there to do the things that people absolutely can't do for themselves"; however, journalist Dann Halem has questioned Maher's libertarianism, describing him more as a liberal. Maher has also called for the creation of a new progressive party "to represent the millions of Americans who aren't being served by the Democrats."

Maher favors a partial privatization of Social Security, ending corporate welfare and federal funding of non-profits, and legalization of gambling, prostitution, and marijuana. Maher is a member of NORML's Advisory Board, an organization which supports regulated legalization of marijuana, and is an open marijuana user. Additionally, Maher describes himself as an environmentalist, and he frequently alludes to the topic of global warming on his show Real Time. Moreover, he is highly suspicious of corporations and often criticizes figures with close ties to industry.

He supported Bob Dole in the 1996 U.S. presidential election on the basis that Dole was a war hero and the kind of "old-fashioned" Republican he admired. In 2000, he told Libertarian Party candidate Harry Browne at the end of a Browne appearance on Politically Incorrect that Browne would have his vote, but ultimately he said he instead voted for Ralph Nader in the 2000 U.S. presidential election.

Maher is a board member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He has expressed his distaste for the pharmaceutical and health care industries in general, on the grounds that they make their money out of curing people who are made sick by consuming unhealthy food that society urges upon the public. He maintains that mass consumption of high-fructose corn syrup is a contributor to the American obesity epidemic. On the August 11, 2005, episode of Larry King Live, Maher said he was not a vegetarian, adding "...but I don't eat a lot of meat." Maher has stated that he has a "very eccentric diet."

Before the 2004 U.S. presidential election, Maher became very forthright in his opposition to the re-election of George W. Bush and in his support for John Kerry as the best candidate to defeat Bush, going so far as to publicly kneel on his show, with director Michael Moore, and beg Ralph Nader to drop out of the race. Maher often says that the word "liberal" has been unfairly demonized, and during the elections he criticized Kerry for being ashamed of the word. Another word that Maher claims has been unfairly demonized by the right-wing is 'elite'. On his show the comedian has highlighted the hypocrisy of distrusting elite politicians while at the same time wanting elite doctors to treat you and elite lawyers to represent you in court. As Maher supports the death penalty, the legality of abortion and euthanasia, he often states his position humorously as "pro-death." Since 9/11 he has stated his endorsement of racial profiling at airports.

While discussing FEMA's failure regarding Hurricane Katrina, Maher suggested it was a failure of "federal responsibility" and faulted President Bush with negligence.

He was originally against the Iraq War but briefly offered less skeptical commentary in light of the Iraqi election of 2005. Maher now views the Iraq War as a failure and implied on the February 24, 2006, episode of Real Time that Iraq was better off under Saddam Hussein and that the U.S. cannot control the sectarian violence like Saddam did. He has said the invasion of Iraq has increased the threat of terrorism. He has also stated his concerns about the possibility of a future civil war in Iraq or about the possibility that Iraq is already involved in the early stages of a civil war. Maher's general view on the Iraq war is that even if it turned out a success in the end, the price America and the world had to pay and are still paying for that success is far too great. In an interview promoting Religulous Maher stated: "People say 'The surge worked now, we got rid of Saddam.' But the cost was 4000 American lives, untold Iraqi lives, ethnic cleansing, four million refugees, a trillion dollars and counting of U.S. money that could've rebuilt every road, bridge and school in America, started a Manhattan project for energy alternatives, given health care to everybody... did the surge work compared to that?" [1]

In a blog post, Maher has indicated his approval of President Bush's support of Israel.

In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Maher announced his support for Barack Obama. Maher was very critical of John McCain, whom he supported in the 2000 primaries, and Sarah Palin. He called Palin an "extremist" who was completely unqualified for the presidency. Maher was also very critical of the situation involving the pregnancy of Palin's 17-year-old daughter, whom Maher said was being forced into a loveless marriage and remarked that Republicans would have "screamed bloody murder" if a Democratic candidate had a similar family situation. He also called Palin a "Category 5 moron" who was not even qualified to be the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

On September 12, 2008, Maher continued his criticism of the Palins by launching a website called freelevi.org (no longer active). On the site, Maher declared that Levi Johnston, the father of Bristol Palin's unborn child, was "America's number one political prisoner" and offered to turn control of the site over to Levi should Johnston wish to use the site as a way of raising money to purchase his freedom.

Maher welcomed Obama's electoral victory. In June 2009, Maher voiced criticisms of Obama, stating that he wasn't being aggressive enough in tackling the big issues like health care reform, the banking crisis and energy legislation. With the Democrats controlling both Houses of Congress and the Executive Branch, Maher argued that significant health care reform should be accomplished within the first year or two of Obama's presidency, before the mid-term elections.

Religion

Maher is highly critical of religion, which he often describes as a neurological disorder that justifies "crazies" and stops people from thinking logically. In two separate appearances on Real Time, comedian George Carlin and Maher argued that religion is a cause of many of society's problems and that the practices of religion are mired in hypocrisy. Maher credited Carlin's views as inspiration for him to speak out against religion.

Maher has said many times that religion works under the guise of morality but that its tenets generally have nothing to do with morality, that religious prohibitions are being confused with moral law. In Maher's view, just because a religion prohibits abortion or decries homosexuality, that does not mean that having an abortion or having homosexual sex are immoral acts. Instead, Maher argues that an immoral person is one who harms others through activities such as murder, rape, or greed.

Maher opposes religious monuments, such as the Ten Commandments, being placed in or near court houses, pointing out that this violates the separation of church and state and the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution. He has countered the assertion of conservative Christians who claim that American law is based on the Ten Commandments by saying that of the ten, only two (the prohibitions on murder and theft) apply to American law. The other commandments, he argues, such as honoring no god before the Judeo-Christian God, keeping Sabbath holy, or honoring thy mother and thy father, are not American laws at all. He even humorously stated while committing adultery wasn't a crime, you could get impeached for it (alluding to the Monica Lewinsky scandal). In answer to the suggestion that a divine moral authority is necessary, he suggests "Couldn't we just get together and agree on the few basic Commandments that are laws? Like 'I won't slaughter you, and don't take my shit.'"

Maher has stated on Politically Incorrect, Real Time, and in several appearances on Larry King Live, viewpoints that can variously be interpreted as a kind of deism or agnosticism. He has also stated that religion is nothing more than tradition and superstition. In 2002, he told the Onion AV Club, "I'm not an atheist. There's a really big difference between an atheist and someone who just doesn't believe in religion. Religion to me is a bureaucracy between man and God that I don't need. But I'm not an atheist, no. I believe there's some force. If you want to call it God... I don't believe God is a single parent who writes books." He asserts that religion provides answers to questions that "cannot possibly be answered." Questions such as "Where do I go when I die?" or "Is there a heaven?", he says, are impossible to answer. By claiming to have the answers, Maher argues, religion is dishonest and it "stops people from thinking."

During Maher's appearance on Larry King Live on August 11, 2005, he said, "I'm not convinced that God exists. But I do allow the possibility. I'm not an atheist. I'm open." The following exchange also occurred on that program:

CALLER: "Hi. Well, my question is, the Lord spoke to me approximately three years ago, and if the Lord spoke to you, I was wondering if you'd become a believer."

MAHER: "No, I'd check into Bellevue, which is what you should do..."

During an interview with TV Guide, Maher was asked his opinion of Sherri Shepherd, co-host of ABC's The View. He responded with, "Sherri Shepherd! The one who said the Earth isn’t round? First, we know it’s round because, like Sherri Shepherd, we can see it from space. Secondly, to me this is child abuse. If you [can't] tell your children if the Earth is flat or notthis is why this country is in such trouble. We’re bringing up ignorant children because they have ignorant parents." These comments were in reference to a segment on The View in which Whoopi Goldberg asked Shepherd if she believed that the Earth was flat, to which Shepherd responded, "I don't know."

Maher then explained that certainty in one's religious belief is absurd, using the example of Scientology: "You [a Scientologist], like all religious people, have a neurological disorder. And the only reason why people think it's sane is because so many other people believe the same thing. It's sanity by consensus."

Maher declared himself an apatheist instead of an agnostic on Scarborough Country on April 24, 2007.

On August 15, 2007, on Larry King Live, he stated that it was impossible to know what happens after death. He compared Christian promises of an afterlife with the promises made by politicians trying to get elected.

On a February 4, 2008, episode of Larry King Live, Maher issued a comment calling all people of the Mormon faith "shape shifters."

Maher is an advisory board member of author Sam Harris's The Reason Project.

Maher and director Larry Charles teamed up to make the feature film Religulous, described by trade publication Variety as a documentary "that spoofs religious extremism across the world." It was released on October 3, 2008.

In a 2010 interview with Times Online Maher noted, "I'm not an atheist, though, because the belief that there is no God only mirrors the certitude of religion. No, I'm saying that doubt is the only appropriate response for human beings." However, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Maher referred to himself as an "outspoken atheist".

On the September 14, 2010 edition of Larry King Live, Maher stated, "I'm against building mosques, churches, synagogues, temples anywhere, because I'm an atheist and I think these are places that perpetuate mass delusion.

Health care

Maher has stated that the AMA is a powerful lobbying group and one of the primary reasons why the United States has failed to enact health care reform.

On August 24, 2009, Maher was a guest on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and on the topic of getting universal health care legislation passed, Maher stated that Obama should forget about trying to get 60 votes for it, "he only needs 51." "Forget getting the sixty votes or sixty percent — sixty percent of people don't believe in evolution in this country — he just needs to drag them to it, like I said, they're stupid; get health care done, with or without them."

Bill Maher has expressed the view that most illness is generally the result of poor diet and that medicine is often not the best way of addressing illness. In an episode of the show about the 2008 presidential candidates' health plans, Maher stated that poor nutrition is the primary cause of illness, and he went on to say that “the answer isn’t another pill.”

In a discussion with Michael Moore about the film Sicko, Maher asks, "The human body is pretty amazing; it doesn't get sick, usually, for no reason. I mean, there's some genetic stuff that can get to you, but, basically, people are sick in this country because they're poisoned. The environment is a poisoning factor, but also, we gotta say, they poison themselves. They eat shit. People eat shit, and that's, to my way of thinking, about 90 percent of why people are sick, is because they eat shit. Would you agree?"

In October 9, 2009, on his HBO show, Maher debated the effectiveness of flu vaccinations with Bill Frist and stated, "Why would you let them be the ones to stick a disease into your arm? I would never get a swine flu vaccine or any vaccine. I don’t trust the government, especially with my health." Maher also expressed skepticism about the seriousness of the swine flu and whether completely healthy people could die from it. His comments have generated criticism, and his remarks have been called unscientific and even harmful.

Maher responded to the criticism, noting, "What I've read about what they think I'm saying is not what I've said. I'm not a germ theory denier. I believe vaccinations can work. Polio is a good example. Do I think in certain situations that inoculating Third World children against malaria or diphtheria, or whatever, is right? Of course. In a situation like that, the benefits outweigh costs. But to me living in Los Angeles? To get a flu shot? No." (see Vaccine controversy)

Criticism of 9/11 conspiracy theories

Maher has been a critic of 9/11 conspiracy theories, stating for instance on the September 14, 2007, edition of Real Time, "Crazy people who still think the government brought down the Twin Towers in a controlled explosion have to stop pretending that I'm the one who's being naïve. How big a lunatic do you have to be to watch two giant airliners packed with jet fuel slam into buildings on live TV, igniting a massive inferno that burned for two hours, and then think, 'well, if you believe that was the cause...' "

On October 19, 2007, Maher had several conspiracy theorist hecklers ejected from his show audience (by Maher himself, jumping off the stage and confronting the hecklers, generating loud applause and laughter) when they interrupted the live show numerous times by calling out from the audience. This drew significant media attention and even praise from Fox News talk show host and frequent critic John Gibson, who stated, "I bet next week I'll be angry or annoyed at something Maher says. But this week, it's hats off to Bill for a job well done."

Maher has never married. In 2003, he began dating former Playboy Cyber Girl Coco Johnsen. In November 2004, at the end of their 17-month relationship, she sued him for USD$9 million for "pain and suffering" for alleged "insulting, humiliating and degrading racial comments." Her suit stated that Maher promised to marry her and father her children, support her financially, and purchase a Beverly Hills home. Her suit also alleged that she quit her job as a flight attendant and occasional model to be with him. Maher's lawyers in their response filed on November 23, 2004, in Los Angeles Superior Court said Maher is a "confirmed bachelor, and a very public one at that" who "never promised to marry [Johnsen] or to have children with her."

Maher's filing stated that "When the dating ended, [Johnson] (sic) launched a campaign to embarrass, humiliate, and extort ridiculous sums of money from Bill Maher." Johnsen accused another former boyfriend of rape and kidnapping in 1997, and the charges were later dismissed for lack of evidence. Her lawsuit against Maher was dismissed on May 2, 2005.

Maher likes his bachelor status and states that he does not want to get married. On his website, he is quoted as saying, "I'm the last of my guy friends to have never gotten married, and their wives ... they don't want them playing with me. I'm like the escaped slave ... I bring news of freedom."

In 2005, he began dating New York Times best-selling author Karrine Steffans, an actress, former music video performer and hip-hop model.

When a pattern was suggested because both his girlfriend and former girlfriend were black, Maher responded, "People say I'm into black women. Robert De Niro is into black women. I'm just into women who are real, and they happen to be black."

Maher has been associated with the Playboy Mansion and, when asked what he liked about it, responded, "The food is out of this world!" "I get the Playboy thing a lot. People assume I go out with bimbos. I couldn't go out with bimbos if I tried! I scare them off! The women that like me are smart. So I go to the Playboy Mansion four or five times a year, but people think I go all the time."

Maher holds the record for the most Emmy nominations without a win, having been nominated on 22 occasions and not winning once. Eleven of these nominations were for Politically Incorrect, while nine were for Real Time. The other two were nominations for two of his HBO comedy specials: Bill Maher: I'm Swiss and Bill Maher: The Decider.

Maher lives in Beverly Hills. As of 2009, he is dating Cara Santa Maria, who has a masters degree in neurobiology.

Bibliography

• True Story : A Novel, 1994 (ISBN 0-7432-4251-3)
• Does Anybody Have a Problem With That? Politically Incorrect's Greatest Hits, 1996 (ISBN 0-679-45627-9)
• Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? The Best of Politically Incorrect, 1997 (ISBN 0-345-41281-8)
• What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism, 2003 (ISBN 1-893224-90-2)
• Keep the Statue of Liberty Closed: The New Rules, 2004 (ISBN 1-932407-47-2)
• Polite Musings from a Timid Observer, 2005 (ISBN 1-59486-295-8)