Bill Maher
Known for: Acting
William 'Bill' Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, he hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect, originally on Comedy Central and later on ABC. He's known for his political satire and sociopolitical commentary, which targets a wide swath of topics. He supports the legalization of marijuana and same-sex marriage, and serves on the board of PETA. He is also a critic of religion and is an advisory board member of Project Reason, a foundation to promote scientific knowledge and secular values within society. He currently ranks number 38 on Comedy Central's 100 greatest stand-ups of all time. He got a Hollywood Walk of Fame star on September 14, 2010.
Filmography
Series
Family Guy
Bill Maher (voice)
1999
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
Series
The Daily Show
Self
1996
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015
Series
Conan
Self
2010
Series
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self
2005
Series
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self - Host
2003
Series
The Terminal List
Bill Maher
2022
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist
1998
Series
Jeopardy!
Self
1984
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Series
Married... with Children
Adam Gold
1987
Series
Late Night with David Letterman
Self
1982
Series
Great Performances
Self
1971
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self
1992
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self - Guest
1992
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Rick Rivers
1984
Series
Murder, She Wrote
Frank Albertson
1984
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee
1956
Series
black-ish
Bill Maher
2014
Series
True Blood
Bill Maher
2008
Series
America's Next Top Model
Self - Guest
2003
Series
Alice
1976
Series
Spin City
Bill Maher
1996
Series
Newhart
1982
Series
Newhart
Norm Murphy
1982
Series
V.I.P.
Bill Maher
1998
Series
The Boondocks
Bill Maher (voice)
2005
Series
The Larry Sanders Show
Bill Maher
1992
Series
Finding Your Roots
Self
2012
Film
Iron Man 3
Bill Maher
2013
Series
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Self
2012
Series
Miracle Workers
Himself (archive footage)
2019
Series
The Jay Leno Show
Self - Guest
2009
Series
Dharma & Greg
Bill Maher
1997
Series
The Sarah Silverman Program
Bill Maher
2007
Series
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
1978
Series
Son of the Beach
2000
Series
Hollywood Squares
Self
2025
Series
The Chris Rock Show
1997
Series
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Self
2015
Series
The Early Show
Self
1999
Series
Roseanne
1988
Film
The Interview
Self (uncredited)
2014
The Marriage Ref
Self - Panelist
2010
Series
History 101
Self (archive footage)
2020
Series
Primetime Glick
Bill Maher
2001
Series
Inside Comedy
Self
2012
Series
One Night Stand
1989
Series
Max Headroom
Haskel
1987
Film
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Barn Dance Comedian (uncredited)
2014
Series
Larry King Live
Self
1985
Series
Brother's Keeper
Bill Maher
1998
Film
John Q
Bill Maher
2002
Series
America: The Story of Us
Self
2010
Series
Mark Twain Prize
Self
1999
Series
Rags to Riches
1987
Series
The Showbiz Show with David Spade
2005
Series
The Jackie Thomas Show
1992
Series
Cuomo
Self - Guest
2022
Series
Snoops
Bill Maher
1999
Series
I Love You, America
Self
2017
Film
The Campaign
Bill Maher
2012
Series
Politically Incorrect
Self - Host
1993
Film
Delivery Man
Self
2013
Hot Country Nights
1991
Film
Reality
Self (archive footage)
2023
Series
Sara
Marty Lang
1985
Film
EDtv
Bill Maher
1999
Film
Primary Colors
Himself
1998
Film
Tomcats
Carlos (uncredited)
2001
Film
House II: The Second Story
John
1987
Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular
1998
Film
Inside Deep Throat
Self
2005
Hello, He Lied & Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches
Self
2002
Film
Sicko
Self
2007
Film
Swing Vote
Bill Maher
2008
Film
Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?
Self
2025
Series
The Secret Rulers of the World
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
Late Night
Bill Maher
2019
Film
Bimbo Movie Bash
Jim (archive footage)
1997
Series
Charlie Hoover
Elliot Weedle
1991
Film
Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death
Jim
1989
Film
Fuck
Self
2006
Film
Matangi / Maya / M.I.A.
Self (archive footage)
2018
Film
Pauly Shore Is Dead
Bill Maher
2003
Film
Religulous
Self - Host/Narrator
2008
Film
The Aristocrats
Self
2005
Film
Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration
2003
Film
D.C. Cab
Baba
1983
Film
Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate
Self
2019
Film
Bill Maher: #Adulting
Self
2022
Film
Get Me Roger Stone
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
Heckler
Self
2007
Film
Rags to Riches
Freddie
1987
Film
Last Party 2000
Self
2001
Film
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self
2002
Film
The Ultimate Collection starring Johnny Carson - The Best of the 70s and 80s
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
Ratboy
Party Guest
1986
Film
Gaza Fights for Freedom
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
Once Upon a Time in Jersey
2026
Film
The Undefeated
Self (archive footage)
2011
Film
Eat Drink Laugh: The Story of The Comic Strip
Self
2014
Film
Earth to America
Self
2005
Film
Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home
Bill Maher
2003
Film
A Night to Die For
Self
1995
Film
Bill Maher: Live from D.C.
Self
2014
TMZ's Merry Elfin' Christmas
Self
2023
Film
Out of Time
Maxwell Taylor
1988
Film
Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole
Self (archive footage)
2010
Film
Mystical Traveler: The Life and Times of Dr. John-Roger
Self (archive footage)
2014
The Weinerville Election Special: From Washington B.C.
1996
Film
The El Duce Tapes
Self
2019
Film
Club Med
Rick
1986
Film
Bill Maher: Stuff That Struck Me Funny
Himself
1995
Film
Bill Maher: But I'm Not Wrong
Self
2010
Film
The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show
1983
Film
Lord, Save Us from Your Followers
Self
2008
Film
Trump @War
Self (archive footage)
2018
Film
Bright Day
Bill Maher
2012
Film
The Comedy Club
Self
2016
Film
Everything's Cool
Self (archive footage)
2007
Film
Comedy Club Shoot-out: Vol. 1
Self
2006
Film
Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville
Writer
1987
Film
Stupidity
Self
2003
Film
Bill Maher: Live From Oklahoma
Self
2018
Film
Pizza Man
Elmo Bunn
1991
Film
AKA Tommy Chong
Himself
2006
Film
Bill Maher: I'm Swiss
Bill Maher
2005
Film
I Am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA
Himself
2007
Sex, Drugs & Religion
Self
2010
Film
Race Against Time
2019
The Hempire Strikes Back
Self
2008
Film
Bill Maher: New Rules
Himself
2006
Film
Bill Maher - Whiny Little Bitch Live
Himself
2016
Film
Bill Maher: The Decider
Himself
2007
Film
Fat Fiction
Self - Comedian (archive footage)
2020
Film
Bill Maher: Be More Cynical
Bill Maher
2000
Bill Maher: The Golden Goose Special
Himself
1997
Film
One-Night Stand: Bill Maher
1989
Film
Bill Maher: CrazyStupidPolitics
Himself
2012