Bill Maher

William Maher (born January 20, 1956) is an American comedian, actor, political satirist, and television host. He gained prominence as the creator, writer, and host of the late-night talk show Politically Incorrect, which aired on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1997 and on ABC from 1997 to 2002, featuring unfiltered discussions with guests from politics, entertainment, and media. Following its cancellation amid controversy over his post-9/11 remarks challenging the mainstream narrative that the hijackers were "cowards," Maher transitioned to HBO, where he has hosted Real Time with Bill Maher since February 21, 2003, blending monologue, interviews, and panel debates on current events. Maher's career highlights include earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 and multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his shows, reflecting his enduring influence in political comedy. An outspoken atheist raised in a mixed Catholic-Jewish household until his family left the church over its abortion stance, Maher has consistently critiqued organized religion and supernatural beliefs, authoring books like When God Was a Rabbit and producing the documentary Religulous (2008). While identifying as politically liberal, he has drawn attention for challenging orthodoxies on the left, including defenses of free speech against cancel culture and criticisms of identity politics, positioning him as a contrarian voice in media discourse often skewed toward progressive conformity.

William Maher was born on January 20, 1956, in New York City to William Aloysius Maher Jr., an Irish Catholic radio announcer and network news editor, and Julie Berman, a nurse of Hungarian Jewish descent. The family relocated to River Vale, New Jersey, where Maher spent his childhood in a suburban environment.

Maher was raised as an only child in his father's Catholic faith, attending church regularly with his father while his mother's Jewish background remained undisclosed during his early years. At around age 12, he learned of his mother's heritage after inquiring about it directly, to which she reportedly responded that she had concealed it to shield him from antisemitism. This revelation occurred during his pre-teen years in New Jersey, marking a shift in his awareness of family identity amid an otherwise conventional Catholic upbringing.

Maher attended Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey, graduating in 1974. During his high school years, he showed early interest in writing, serving as business manager for the school newspaper.