Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Bill Maher
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Bill Maher made an impact.
Bill Maher is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He's best known for hosting the political talk shows *Real Time with Bill Maher* (HBO) and *Politically Incorrect* (Comedy Central/ABC), where he delivers his often controversial and satirical takes on current events and political issues. In 2022, he expanded his reach by launching the podcast *Club Random*.
1979: Host at Catch a Rising Star
In 1979, Maher began his career as the host of the New York City comedy club Catch a Rising Star.
1982: Appearance on Carson and Letterman Shows
In 1982, Maher began appearing on Johnny Carson's and David Letterman's shows.
1983: D.C. Cab Film Debut
In 1983, Maher made his feature film debut in "D.C. Cab".
1985: Sara TV Appearance
In 1985, Maher made a television appearance on "Sara".
1986: Ratboy Film Appearance
In 1986, Maher appeared in the film "Ratboy".
1987: Max Headroom TV Appearance
In 1987, Maher appeared on television in "Max Headroom".
1988: Appearances in House II, Cannibal Women, and Newhart
In 1988, Maher appeared in "House II: The Second Story", "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death", and "Newhart".
1989: Murder, She Wrote Appearance
In 1989, Maher appeared on "Murder, She Wrote".
1990: Appearances on Murder She Wrote and Midnight Hour
In 1990, Maher appeared on "Murder, She Wrote" and hosted the talk show "Midnight Hour" on CBS.
1993: Politically Incorrect Debut
In 1993, Bill Maher started hosting "Politically Incorrect", a late-night show, originally on Comedy Central.
1993: Hosting Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central
In 1993, Maher took on the host role for "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher", a late-night talk show on Comedy Central.
1997: Politically Incorrect moves to ABC
In 1997, "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher" moved from Comedy Central to ABC.
1997: Joined PETA Board
In 1997, Maher joined the board of PETA, showing his support for animal rights.
June 16, 2002: Cancellation of Politically Incorrect
On June 16, 2002, Bill Maher's show, "Politically Incorrect", was canceled.
June 22, 2002: Los Angeles Press Club Award
On June 22, 2002, six days after the cancellation of "Politically Incorrect", Maher received the Los Angeles Press Club president's award for championing free speech.
2002: End of Politically Incorrect
In 2002, "Politically Incorrect" concluded its run.
2002: Authored Foreword for Spin This!
In 2002, Maher wrote the foreword for the book "Spin This!: All the Ways We Don't Tell the Truth" by Bill Press.
2003: Real Time with Bill Maher Premiere
In 2003, Bill Maher began hosting "Real Time with Bill Maher", a political talk show on HBO.
2004: Appearance in "Hollywood Hell House"
In 2004, Maher appeared on stage as Satan in The Steve Allen Theater production of "Hollywood Hell House".
January 13, 2006: Hosted Larry King Live
On January 13, 2006, Maher hosted an edition of "Larry King Live".
October 3, 2008: Release of Religulous
On October 3, 2008, "Religulous", a documentary directed by Larry Charles and featuring Bill Maher, was released.
2008: Religulous Film Release
In 2008, Maher's documentary film "Religulous", which critiques religion, was released.
2009: Maher discusses the Affordable Care Act
In 2009, Bill Maher discussed the Affordable Care Act, stating that Obama should focus on securing 51 votes rather than trying to reach 60 votes. Maher also mentioned on Fox News with Bill O'Reilly that with Jesus in charge, the United States would probably have health care for everybody.
2009: Maher Receives Richard Dawkins Award
In 2009, Bill Maher received the Richard Dawkins Award from Atheist Alliance International, recognizing his contributions to promoting secular values. He also became an advisory board member of Sam Harris's Project Reason, a foundation focused on advancing scientific knowledge and secular principles.
June 29, 2010: Special Guest on Larry King Live
On June 29, 2010, Maher appeared as a special guest on "Larry King Live", during which Larry King announced his retirement.
December 16, 2010: Co-Emceed Larry King's Final Show
On December 16, 2010, Maher co-emceed the final show of "Larry King Live" with Ryan Seacrest.
2011: Maher describes himself as an apatheist
In 2011, Bill Maher described himself as an apatheist, stating he doesn't know or care what happens after death. He clarified that on a scale of certainty regarding God's non-existence, he ranks at 6.9, emphasizing the importance of doubt and inclusivity toward non-religious individuals.
2011: Maher supports Medicare-for-All
Since 2011, Bill Maher has consistently supported the establishment of a Medicare-for-All universal single-payer health care system, advocating for health care reform in the United States.
2012: Maher clarifies his views on atheism
On his HBO show in 2012, Maher clarified that atheism is not a religion and doesn't consume his time. He reiterated that he rejects the certitude of both the existence and non-existence of deities, stating that doubt is the only appropriate response for human beings.
February 12, 2013: Gun Ownership for Home Protection
On February 12, 2013, Maher explained on Conan that he owns guns for personal home protection but does not identify as a "proud" gun owner.
June 7, 2013: Support for NSA's PRISM Program
On June 7, 2013, Maher expressed limited support on his show for the NSA's PRISM intelligence data collection from private phone calls and the Internet, citing the threat of terrorists using nuclear weapons as his tipping point, while also expressing concerns about government overreach.
2013: Executive Producer for Vice and Donald Trump Challenge
In 2013, Maher became an executive producer for the HBO newsmagazine series "Vice". Also in 2013, he offered $5 million to charity if Donald Trump produced his birth certificate.
2014: Defense of Israel's Military Actions
During the 2014 Gaza war, Maher defended Israel's military actions against Palestinians amid criticism over civilian deaths and casualty counts, arguing Israel was showing restraint, which sparked online backlash.
2014: "Flip a District" Contest
In 2014, Maher conducted a "Flip a District" contest on his HBO show, aiming to oust a Republican Representative from Minnesota, but he failed.
2014: Endorsement of Maine Bear Hunting Referendum
In 2014, Maher endorsed a Maine referendum to ban the use of bait, traps and dogs to hunt bears in Maine, criticizing the use of bait as inhumane.
November 2015: Opposition to Accepting Syrian Refugees
In November 2015, Maher voiced his opposition to the United States accepting Syrian refugees, citing concerns about differing values and potential risks associated with Sharia law.
2015: Maher Calls on Obama to Pardon Marijuana Offenses
In 2015, Bill Maher called on then President Barack Obama to pardon people incarcerated for marijuana offenses. Maher is a long time supporter of cannabis law reform.
2015: Criticism of Obama's Visit to Saudi Arabia
In 2015, Maher criticized Barack Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia, stating that the U.S. should stop respecting their medieval values under the guise of cultural sensitivity.
February 5, 2016: Endorsement of Bernie Sanders
On February 5, 2016, Bill Maher initially endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for the U.S. presidential election.
June 2016: Support for Hillary Clinton
In June 2016, Bill Maher announced his support for Hillary Clinton after she won the nomination from the Democratic Party primary elections.
October 2016: Criticism of Julian Assange
In October 2016, Maher criticized WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing leaks from the DNC's emails, accusing him of hating Hillary Clinton.
2016: Real Time Renewed Through 2018
In 2016, HBO renewed "Real Time with Bill Maher" through 2018 for its 15th and 16th seasons.
March 31, 2017: Response to Clinton's Defeat
On March 31, 2017, Maher responded to suggestions that Hillary Clinton would end her low profile and speak out, telling her to "stay in the woods" following her election defeat.
June 2017: "House Nigger" Controversy
In June 2017, Maher received criticism for making a racially insensitive joke on Real Time, saying "I'm a house nigger", leading to calls for his firing from HBO and subsequent apologies and discussions on the show.
April 13, 2018: Prediction of Trump's refusal to concede election
On April 13, 2018, Bill Maher predicted that Donald Trump would refuse to concede any loss in the 2020 United States presidential election during one of the 20 different editions of Real Time with Bill Maher broadcast between April 13, 2018, and August 7, 2020.
2018: Real Time Renewed Through 2018
In 2016, HBO renewed "Real Time with Bill Maher" through 2018 for its 15th and 16th seasons. Therefore in 2018, those renewed seasons were concluded.
March 14, 2019: Highlighting Trump's Assertions
On March 14, 2019, Maher highlighted Trump's assertion that he had the support of the police, military, and bikers, citing it as evidence that Trump would seek to remain in office by force.
August 2019: Denouncement of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement
In August 2019, Maher denounced the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, calling it "very shallow thinking". He also responded to Rep. Rashida Tlaib's call to boycott his talk show.
August 2019: Recession 'Worth It' if Trump Loses
In August 2019, Maher said an economic recession would be "worth it" if Donald Trump did not get re-elected in 2020.
January 25, 2020: 'New Rules' segment on Trump refusing to leave
On January 25, 2020, Maher dedicated a 'New Rules' end segment to the subject of Trump's potential refusal to concede any loss in the 2020 United States presidential election.
August 7, 2020: Predictions about the 2020 election
Leading up to August 7, 2020, during several press interviews and over the course of 20 different editions of Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher predicted that Trump would refuse to concede any loss in the 2020 United States presidential election.
August 15, 2020: Remarks on Trump's Departure
In an August 15, 2020, interview with Vanity Fair, Maher stated that it was inevitable that Trump would not leave office willingly.
September 25, 2020: Criticism of Media Coverage
On September 25, 2020, during Real Time, Maher criticized the framing of a New York Times story regarding Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, asserting that the media should have amplified the severity of the threats.
2020: Comments on Trump's Re-election
In 2020, Maher expressed that an economic recession would be "worth it" if it meant Donald Trump wouldn't be re-elected.
March 2021: Criticism of China's Treatment of Uyghurs
In March 2021, Maher criticized China's treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, asserting that the United States has lost to China in the battle for the 21st century due to its focus on a "never-ending woke competition".
2021: Opposition to the 'Black national anthem'
In 2021, Maher opposed the NFL's decision to play the "Black national anthem" before games, considering it a form of segregation.
2021: Urging America to Take in Afghan Refugees
In 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Maher urged America to take in Afghan refugees.
January 2022: Declining to run for president
In January 2022, Bill Maher declined to run in the 2024 United States presidential election following speculation that he might be called on to do so.
March 21, 2022: Launch of Club Random Podcast
On March 21, 2022, Maher launched the "Club Random" podcast, featuring one-on-one interviews.
2022: Blaming Hollywood for Mass Shootings
In 2022, Maher blamed mass shootings in part on Hollywood's romanticization of gun violence in movies.
2022: Criticism of Biden's Disinformation Governance Board
In 2022, Maher criticized the Biden administration's Disinformation Governance Board and likened it to the Ministry of Truth from George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
2022: Criticism of the Democratic Party's diversity focus
In 2022, Maher criticized the Democratic Party for prioritizing diversity over merit when selecting candidates, also speaking out against critical race theory but supporting teaching the history of racism.
2022: Club Random Podcast Launch
In 2022, Maher launched his podcast, "Club Random".
September 13, 2023: Maher announces plans to restart HBO show
On September 13, 2023, Bill Maher announced his plans on Twitter to restart a version of his HBO show.
September 2023: Maher criticizes WGA strike demands
In September 2023, Bill Maher criticized the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike on his Club Random podcast, calling some of the demands "kooky". Maher stated he supported the strike but also mentioned that there are some things that the writers are demanding that he doesn't agree with, in particular the WGA proposal of having a mandate to have a particular set number of writers on each show.
February 2024: Unreleased Kanye West Interview
In February 2024, Maher decided not to release an interview with Kanye West for "Club Random" due to antisemitic comments.
March 2024: Club Random Studios
In March 2024, Maher announced the start of Club Random Studios with Chris Casey and Chuck LaBella.
May 2024: Retiring from Stand-up Comedy
In May 2024, Bill Maher told Jerry Seinfeld on the "Club Random" podcast that he plans to stop doing stand-up comedy after this year.
July 2024: Call for Biden to Decline Nomination
In July 2024, Maher called on Joe Biden to decline the Democratic party's nomination in order to have an open convention; Maher expressed his support for Gavin Newsom to replace Biden as the party's nominee.
February 2025: Endorsement of John Fetterman
In February 2025, Bill Maher endorsed Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman for the 2028 Democratic Party presidential primaries.
March 2025: Criticism of NPR and Call for Defunding
In March 2025, after NPR's CEO defended the network's journalism, Bill Maher criticized NPR as "crazy far-left" and called for defunding public media outlets.
September 2025: Criticism of Lack of News Coverage on Persecution of Christians in Nigeria
In September 2025, Maher criticized the lack of news coverage on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, stating that they are being "systematically killed".
2028: Democratic Party presidential primaries
In February 2025, Bill Maher endorsed Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman for the 2028 Democratic Party presidential primaries.
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