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, television host, actor, and political commentator known for his satirical and often controversial takes on current events. He gained prominence as the host of Politically Incorrect and currently hosts Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO. Maher is also the host of the Club Random podcast. He is recognized for his outspoken views and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, often sparking debate on political and social issues.
1979: Host at Catch a Rising Star
In 1979, Bill Maher began his career as the host of the New York City comedy club Catch a Rising Star.
1982: Appeared on Carson's and Letterman's Shows
In 1982, Bill Maher began appearing on Johnny Carson's and David Letterman's shows.
1983: Film Debut in D.C. Cab
In 1983, Bill Maher made his feature film debut in "D.C. Cab".
1985: Appeared on Sara
In 1985, Bill Maher made a television appearance on "Sara".
1986: Appeared in Ratboy
In 1986, Bill Maher appeared in the film "Ratboy".
1987: Appeared on Max Headroom and House II
In 1987, Bill Maher appeared on "Max Headroom" and in the film "House II: The Second Story".
1988: Appeared in Cannibal Women and Newhart
In 1988, Bill Maher appeared in "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death" and "Newhart".
1989: Appeared on Murder, She Wrote
In 1989, Bill Maher appeared on "Murder, She Wrote".
1990: Appeared on Murder, She Wrote and hosted Midnight Hour
In 1990, Bill Maher appeared on "Murder, She Wrote" and hosted the talk show "Midnight Hour" on CBS.
1991: Appeared on Charlie Hoover and Pizza Man
In 1991, Bill Maher appeared on "Charlie Hoover" and in the film "Pizza Man".
1993: Hosting Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central
In 1993, Bill Maher began hosting "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher", a late-night political talk show on Comedy Central.
1993: Host of Politically Incorrect
In 1993, Bill Maher started hosting the late-night show "Politically Incorrect" on Comedy Central.
1997: Politically Incorrect Moved to ABC
In 1997, "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher" moved from Comedy Central to ABC.
1997: Joined PETA Board
In 1997, Bill Maher joined the board of PETA, supporting animal rights.
June 16, 2002: Cancellation of Politically Incorrect
On June 16, 2002, "Politically Incorrect" was canceled; the Sinclair Broadcast Group had dropped the show from its ABC-affiliated stations several months earlier.
2002: End of Politically Incorrect
In 2002, "Politically Incorrect" concluded its run. It was hosted by Bill Maher on ABC and Comedy Central.
2002: Authored Foreword for Spin This!
In 2002, Bill Maher wrote the foreword for the book "Spin This!: All the Ways We Don't Tell the Truth" by Bill Press.
2003: Host of Real Time with Bill Maher
In 2003, Bill Maher began hosting "Real Time with Bill Maher", a political talk show on HBO.
2003: Tony Award Nomination
In 2003, Bill Maher was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home.
2004: Played Satan in Hollywood Hell House
In 2004, Bill Maher played Satan in "Hollywood Hell House", a spoof of Christian-run hell houses at The Steve Allen Theater.
January 13, 2006: Hosted Larry King Live
On January 13, 2006, Bill Maher hosted an edition of "Larry King Live", on which he was a frequent guest.
2006: High Times Honor and Stony Award for Real Time
In 2006, Bill Maher was honored by High Times as "Top Pot Comic" and Real Time won a Stony Award for "Best Cable News Show", highlighting his comedic talent and the show's impact.
October 19, 2007: Confrontation with 9/11 Truthers
On October 19, 2007, Bill Maher confronted and ejected 9/11 truthers from his show audience after they repeatedly interrupted the live show, an incident that garnered media attention and praise from John Gibson of Fox News.
October 3, 2008: Religulous Release
On October 3, 2008, the movie "Religulous", co-created by Bill Maher, was released.
2008: Criticism of the Medical Industry
In 2008, Bill Maher criticized the medical industry and the over-reliance on pharmaceuticals, suggesting that poor diet and lack of exercise were primary causes of illness and "the answer isn't another pill."
2008: Release of Religulous
In 2008, Bill Maher's documentary film "Religulous", which critically views religion, was released.
2009: Obama and Health Care Reform
In 2009, Bill Maher commented on Obama's effort to pass the Affordable Care Act, saying Obama should focus on getting 51 votes. He mentioned the American Medical Association as a powerful lobbying group.
2009: Richard Dawkins Award
In 2009, Bill Maher received the Richard Dawkins Award from Atheist Alliance International, recognizing his contributions to promoting atheism and secular values.
June 29, 2010: Special Guest on Larry King Live
On June 29, 2010, Bill Maher appeared as a special guest on "Larry King Live", where Larry King announced his retirement.
December 16, 2010: Co-emceed Final Larry King Live Show
On December 16, 2010, Bill Maher co-emceed the final show of "Larry King Live" with Ryan Seacrest.
2011: Maher Defines His Apatheism
In 2011, Bill Maher described himself as an apatheist, stating, "I don't know what happens when you die, and I don't care." He placed himself at 6.9 on a scale of certainty about God's non-existence, similar to Richard Dawkins, emphasizing the importance of doubt and inclusivity towards non-religious individuals.
2011: Support for Medicare-for-All
In 2011, Bill Maher expressed his support for a Medicare-for-All universal single-payer health care system, a position he has consistently held.
February 23, 2012: Contributed to Obama SuperPAC
On February 23, 2012, Bill Maher announced he was contributing $1 million to Priorities USA, the Obama SuperPAC, after his "Crazy Stupid Politics" special streamed on Yahoo! Screen.
2012: Atheism Is Not a Religion
In 2012, Bill Maher stated that atheism is not a religion, further clarifying that it isn't even a hobby. This was during an episode of his HBO show. He emphasized that being an atheist requires little time and stated that he doesn't really enjoy talking about religion all the time.
June 7, 2013: Support for NSA's PRISM Program
On June 7, 2013, Bill 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 obtaining and using nuclear weapons as the tipping point for him.
2013: Executive Producer for Vice and Trump Challenge
In 2013, Bill Maher became an executive producer for "Vice" on HBO. Also in 2013, he offered to pay $5 million to charity if Donald Trump produced his birth certificate, mirroring Trump's challenge to President Obama.
2014: Defense of Israel's Military Actions
During the 2014 Gaza war, Bill Maher defended Israel's military actions against Palestinians amid criticism over civilian deaths and disproportionate casualty count between Israelis and Palestinians. He argued that Israel is still showing restraint, and he finds it ironic that the same people who were incredulous over how the Jews in World War II were led "to their slaughter" cannot understand why they are defending themselves now.
2014: Endorsement of Maine Referendum
In 2014, Bill Maher endorsed a Maine referendum to ban the use of bait, traps and dogs to hunt bears in Maine, specifically criticizing the use of bait.
November 2015: Opposition to Accepting Syrian Refugees
In November 2015, Bill Maher expressed opposition to the United States accepting Syrian refugees, arguing that they have different values which are at odds with American values.
2015: Call for Marijuana Pardons
In 2015, Bill Maher called on then-President Barack Obama to pardon individuals incarcerated for marijuana offenses, reflecting his long-standing support for cannabis law reform.
2015: Criticism of Obama's Visit to Saudi Arabia
In 2015, Bill Maher criticized Barack Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. ally, saying: "Stop respecting their medieval bullshit under the guise of, 'It's their culture.'"
2015: Primetime Emmy Award for Vice
In 2015, Bill Maher won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special for Vice, recognizing the show's quality and impact.
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, Bill Maher criticized WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing leaks from the DNC's emails, expressing his belief that Assange had lost his way and harbored animosity towards Hillary Clinton.
2016: Real Time Renewed by HBO
In 2016, HBO renewed "Real Time with Bill Maher" through 2018, for its 15th and 16th seasons.
2016: Peabody Award Nomination for Vice
In 2016, Vice was nominated for the Peabody Award for their segment on Student debt, recognizing the show's investigative journalism and social relevance.
March 31, 2017: Response to Clinton's Defeat
On March 31, 2017, following Hillary Clinton's defeat, Bill Maher responded on air to suggestions that Clinton was ready to end her low profile and speak out. Maher advised Clinton to "stay in the woods", suggesting she had her chance and failed, comparing her to Bill Buckner's error in the World Series.
June 2017: Controversy over 'House Nigger' Joke
In June 2017, Bill Maher faced criticism for saying "I'm a house nigger" in an off-the-cuff joke on Real Time. HBO called the remarks "inexcusable and tasteless" and removed the segment from future airings. Maher apologized for the remarks and discussed the controversy on his show.
2017: Critiques of Islam and Western Values
In 2017, Bill Maher defended his criticism of Islam, Sharia law, and Muslim culture by stating his belief in Western values like the separation of church and state, gender equality, respect for minorities, free elections, free speech, and freedom to gather. He also agreed with Sam Harris that the left has allied itself with Islamists.
February 2018: Criticism of #MeToo Movement
In February 2018, Bill Maher criticized the #MeToo movement, describing it as McCarthyism, which sparked controversy and debate about his views on sexual harassment and accountability.
April 13, 2018: Prediction of Trump's Refusal to Concede
On April 13, 2018, Bill Maher predicted that Trump would refuse to concede any loss in the 2020 United States presidential election.
2018: Renewal of Real Time with Bill Maher
In 2018, HBO renewed "Real Time with Bill Maher" for additional seasons.
March 14, 2019: Quoting Trump on Support
On March 14, 2019, Bill Maher quoted Trump's assertion, "I have the support of the police, the military, the bikers [for Trump]" and "the tough people", citing this as evidence that Trump would seek to remain in office by force.
August 2019: Denouncement of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement
In August 2019, Bill Maher denounced the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, criticizing its underlying assumptions. He responded to Rep. Rashida Tlaib's call to boycott his talk show, questioning whether she wanted to boycott 93% of her own party.
August 2019: Economic Recession Statement
In August 2019, Bill Maher stated that an economic recession would be "worth it" if Donald Trump did not get re-elected in 2020, emphasizing the importance of preventing another term for Trump.
2019: Criticism for Vaccine Claims
In 2019, David Gorski criticized Bill Maher for his HBO interview with Dr. Jay Gordon and Maher's claims about vaccines, especially the influenza vaccine, and speculation about a link between vaccines and autism. Gorski deemed it inappropriate that Maher received the Richard Dawkins Award.
January 25, 2020: 'New Rules' Segment on Trump
On January 25, 2020, Bill Maher dedicated a 'New Rules' end segment to the subject of Trump refusing to concede any loss in the 2020 United States presidential election.
April 2020: Defense of Term 'Wuhan Virus'
In April 2020, Bill Maher criticized those who equated using the term "Wuhan virus" with racism, arguing that scientists have historically named diseases after their places of origin.
August 7, 2020: Prediction of Violence by Trump Supporters
On August 7, 2020, Bill Maher criticized Democratic Party politicians for not taking the threat seriously, predicting there would be violence by armed Trump supporters attempting to keep Trump in power.
August 15, 2020: Prediction of Trump's Refusal to Leave
In an August 15, 2020, interview with Vanity Fair, Bill Maher stated that "we've baked it into the cake that he's not going to leave", referring to Donald Trump.
September 25, 2020: Criticism of New York Times Framing
On September 25, 2020, Bill Maher criticized the framing of a New York Times story by Michael Crowley headlined "Trump Won't Commit to Peaceful Transfer of Power", asserting that the media should have amplified the severity of Trump's threats.
2020: Support for Chris Matthews
In 2020, Bill Maher voiced his support for Chris Matthews against allegations of sexual harassment, further fueling discussions and debates surrounding the #MeToo movement and its implications.
January 2021: Promotion of COVID-19 Lab Leak Theory
In January 2021, Bill Maher promoted the COVID-19 lab leak theory, contributing to discussions around the origins of the pandemic.
March 2021: Criticism of China and the US
In March 2021, Bill Maher criticized China's treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. However, he also said the United States has "lost" to China in the "battle for the 21st century" and criticized the U.S. for focusing on a "never-ending woke competition".
April 16, 2021: Criticism of Media Coverage of COVID-19
On April 16, 2021, Bill Maher criticized media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, referring to it as "panic porn" and suggesting that biased sources of medical information lead to a misinformed population.
2021: Opposition to 'Black National Anthem'
In 2021, Bill Maher opposed the NFL's decision to play the "Black national anthem" before games, considering it a form of segregation. He argued for one national anthem and rejected separate ceremonies and dorms based on race, which drew some criticism.
2021: Urging America to Take in Afghan Refugees
In 2021, after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Bill 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 2022: Defense of Florida Parental Rights in Education Act
In March 2022, Bill Maher rebuked liberals for their opposition to the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act and defended Republicans for pushing the bill.
March 21, 2022: Launched Club Random Podcast
On March 21, 2022, Bill Maher launched a podcast titled "Club Random", featuring one-on-one interviews recorded in his home bar, focusing on topics other than politics.
May 2022: Comments on LGBT Identification and Transgender Health Care
In May 2022, Bill Maher commented on the rise in LGBT identification, suggesting it may be partly due to trendiness. He also referred to puberty blockers and other transgender health care for trans youth as "literally experimenting on children", sparking criticism and accusations of transphobia.
2022: Blaming Hollywood for Mass Shootings
In 2022, Bill Maher blamed mass shooting in part due to Hollywood romanticization of gun violence in movies. However Maher has said that despite him not liking guns he is glad that they exist saying it "levels the playing field".
2022: Criticism of Biden Administration's Disinformation Governance Board
In 2022, Bill Maher criticized the Biden administration's Disinformation Governance Board and agreed with the comparison that the board was similar to the Ministry of Truth from George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
2022: Criticism of Democratic Party's 'Checking Boxes'
In 2022, Bill Maher criticized the Democratic Party for "checking boxes" in regard to candidates of different identity groups, including race. He stated that Democrats prioritize diversity over merit. Maher has also spoken out against critical race theory but supports teaching the history of racism.
2022: Launch of Club Random Podcast
In 2022, Bill Maher launched the podcast "Club Random".
September 13, 2023: Announcement of Restarting HBO Show
On September 13, 2023, Bill Maher announced on Twitter his plans to restart a version of his HBO show, signaling the return of his platform for commentary and discussions.
September 2023: Criticism of 2023 Writers Guild of America Strike
In September 2023, Bill Maher criticized the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike on his Club Random podcast. While he stated he supported the strike, he criticized some of the demands such as mandating a particular number of writers on each show. He also expressed his wish for Governor Gavin Newsom to help end the strike.
2023: Spiritual Discussion with Deepak Chopra
In 2023, Bill Maher discussed his spiritual queries and interests with Deepak Chopra, signaling a potential shift or expansion in his views on spirituality while still being critical of religion.
February 2024: Decided Not to Release Kanye West Interview
In February 2024, Bill Maher decided not to release a two-hour interview with Kanye West recorded for "Club Random" due to the rapper's recent antisemitic comments.
March 2024: Announced Club Random Studios
In March 2024, Bill Maher announced that he was starting a podcast network with Chris Casey and Chuck LaBella called Club Random Studios.
May 2024: Maher to Stop Doing Stand-Up
In May 2024, Bill Maher told Jerry Seinfeld on the Club Random podcast that "after this year, I'm going to stop doing [stand-up]".
July 2024: Support for Gavin Newsom
In July 2024, Bill Maher called on Joe Biden to decline the Democratic party's nomination in order to have an open convention at the Democratic 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 and praised his strong support of Israel and stance against "woke".
September 2025: Criticism of Lack of Coverage on Persecution of Christians in Nigeria
In September 2025, Bill Maher criticized the lack of news coverage on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, stating that they are being "systematically killed" and rhetorically questioned, "Where are the kids protesting this?"
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