JOHN MAHONEY

John Mahoney was best known as the irascible father of Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce on the long-running TV show, Frasier. He is part of a long list of UK subjects who acted in American productions with no hint of a British accent. Born in Blackpool, England, Mahoney came to America to visit his sister and decided to stay. He served in the US Army and became a citizen. Mahoney died recently at 77. He had an impressive run of movie appearances in the 80's and 90's.
Tin Men (1987) is the second in director Barry Levinson’s Baltimore trilogy. Danny Devito and Richard Dreyfuss play siding salesmen who work for different companies. There is a crash involving both salesmen’s Cadillacs and the war is on. The no-holds-barred of each includes the seduction of the other’s wife and complaining to the Maryland Housing Commission. John Mahoney has a nice turn as Dreyfuss’ hospitalized older partner. This film is lots funnier than I make it sound here!
In Frantic (1988) Harrison Ford plays an American physician (Richard Walker) on a business trip to Paris. There is a mixup with suitcases at the airport and while he is in the shower his wife (Broadway star Betty Buckley) mysteriously disappears. John Mahoney appears as a mildly sympathetic but basically unhelpful US Embassy employee. Walker is pretty much on his own trying to find his wife and some pretty desperate criminals are involved.
Eight Men Out (1988) is the about the 1919 Black Sox scandal when several Chicago White Sox players threw the World Series in response to gamblers’ payoffs. The eight men of the title included Shoeless Joe Jackson, a megastar of the time. John Mahoney is quite good as the team’s manager, Kid Gleason. He is puzzled by the poor play of his stars, but is not involved with or even aware of the fix. 
Say Anything (1989) was John Cusak’s breakout film. He plays Lloyd Dobler, a very mediocre student who falls hard for the class valedictorian, Diane Court (Ione Skye). Her disapproving father, Jim Court, is ably portrayed by John Mahoney. Will these star-crossed lovers find happiness? Watch and see. 
In The Line Of Fire (1993) is a terrific thriller starring Clint Eastwood as Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan. John Mahoney plays Sam Campagna, director of the Secret Service and Horrigan’s boss. After some unfortunate mishaps, Horrigan winds up with a chance to save the president from an assassin, played with delicious creepiness by John Malkovich. 
Other films featuring John Mahoney include the incredibly complicated The Russia House (1980) in which he plays a CIA handler of agents. Mahoney has bit parts in Barton Fink (1991), Reality Bites (1994) and The American President (1995).
All of the films in this article are available on DVD. All are for grown-ups.