History of Bill Maher in Timeline
Bill Maher is an American comedian, television host, actor, and political commentator. He is best known for his politically satirical style and hosting HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" since 2003. Before that, he hosted "Politically Incorrect" on Comedy Central from 1993 to 2002. Maher also hosts the podcast "Club Random" (2022–present). His work consistently engages with current events and political discourse, often challenging conventional viewpoints.
January 20, 1956: William Maher Born
On January 20, 1956, William Maher, now known as Bill Maher, was born. He is an American television host, comedian, actor, and political commentator.
1974: Graduated from Pascack Hills High School
In 1974, Maher graduated from Pascack Hills High School in Montvale.
1978: Graduated from Cornell University
In 1978, Maher graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and history.
1979: Host of 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: Appearances on Carson and Letterman's Shows
In 1982, Maher began appearing on the shows of Johnny Carson and David Letterman.
1983: Feature Film Debut in D.C. Cab
In 1983, Maher made his feature film debut in D.C. Cab.
1985: Appearance on Sara
In 1985, Maher made a television appearance on Sara.
1987: Appearance on Max Headroom
In 1987, Maher appeared on the television show 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: Appearance on Murder, She Wrote
In 1989, Maher appeared on an episode of Murder, She Wrote.
1990: Appearances on Murder, She Wrote and Hosting Midnight Hour
In 1990, Maher appeared again on Murder, She Wrote and hosted the talk show Midnight Hour on CBS.
1991: Appearance on Charlie Hoover and Pizza Man
In 1991, Maher made television appearances on Charlie Hoover and in the film Pizza Man.
1993: Host of Politically Incorrect
In 1993, Bill Maher became the host of the late-night show Politically Incorrect, which aired on Comedy Central.
1993: Hosting Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central
In 1993, Maher took on the role of host for Politically Incorrect, a late-night political talk show that initially aired on Comedy Central.
1997: Served on the Board of PETA
In 1997, Maher began serving on the board of PETA, showing his support for animal rights.
1997: Politically Incorrect moves to ABC
In 1997, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher moved from Comedy Central to ABC.
June 16, 2002: Cancellation of Politically Incorrect
On June 16, 2002, Politically Incorrect was officially canceled. The Sinclair Broadcast Group had already dropped the show from its ABC-affiliated stations.
June 22, 2002: Received Los Angeles Press Club President's Award
On June 22, 2002, six days after Politically Incorrect's cancellation, Maher received the Los Angeles Press Club president's award for championing free speech.
2002: End of Politically Incorrect
In 2002, ABC decided not to renew Bill Maher's contract, leading to the end of Politically Incorrect.
2002: Rejection of Atheist Label
In 2002, Bill Maher rejected being grouped with explicit atheists, stating, "I'm not an atheist. There's a really big difference between an atheist and someone who just doesn't believe in religion."
2002: 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.
2002: Controversial Remark and Cancellation of Politically Incorrect
In 2002, following a controversial remark about the 9/11 attacks, ABC decided against renewing Maher's contract for Politically Incorrect, leading to its cancellation. Advertisers like FedEx and Sears also pulled their ads.
2003: Maher Begins Dating Coco Johnsen
In 2003, Bill Maher began a relationship with flight attendant Coco Johnsen.
2003: Host of Real Time with Bill Maher
In 2003, Bill Maher started hosting Real Time with Bill Maher, a political talk show on HBO.
2003: Maher Nominated for Tony Award
In 2003, Bill Maher was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home.
November 2004: Johnsen Sues Maher for US$9 Million
In November 2004, Coco Johnsen sued Bill Maher for US$9 million, citing "pain and suffering" due to alleged racial comments and broken promises.
November 23, 2004: Maher's Lawyers Respond to Johnsen's Lawsuit
On November 23, 2004, Bill Maher's lawyers responded to Coco Johnsen's lawsuit, stating he is a "confirmed bachelor" who never promised marriage or children.
2004: Played Satan in Hollywood Hell House
In 2004, Maher appeared on stage as Satan in The Steve Allen Theater production of Hollywood Hell House.
May 2, 2005: Johnsen's Lawsuit Dismissed
On May 2, 2005, Coco Johnsen's lawsuit against Bill Maher was dismissed.
2005: Maher Dates Karrine Steffans
In 2005, Bill Maher began dating Karrine Steffans, an author and former hip hop model. In response to suggestions of a pattern in his dating preferences, Maher asserted he is drawn to genuine women, who happen to be black.
2005: Ranked on Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups
In 2005, Maher was ranked No. 38 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time.
January 13, 2006: Hosted Larry King Live
On January 13, 2006, Maher hosted an edition of Larry King Live, on which he was a frequent guest.
2006: Maher Honored by High Times
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".
October 19, 2007: Maher Confronts 9/11 Truthers on His Show
On October 19, 2007, Bill Maher confronted and ejected several 9/11 truthers from his show audience after they repeatedly disrupted the live broadcast. The incident garnered media attention and praise.
2007: Television Producer of the Year Award
In 2007, Maher and his co-producers were awarded the Television Producer of the Year Award in Variety Television by the Producers Guild of America.
October 3, 2008: Release of Religulous
On October 3, 2008, the movie Religulous, created by Maher and director Larry Charles, was released.
2008: Maher Discusses Health Plans
During an episode of his show in 2008 discussing the presidential candidates' health plans, Bill Maher stated that poor nutrition was a primary cause of illness, and that medicine was often not the most appropriate way of addressing illness.
2008: Release of Religulous
In 2008, Maher's documentary film Religulous, which critically examines religion, was released.
2008: Support for Barack Obama
In 2008, during the U.S. presidential election, Maher announced his support for Barack Obama.
2008: Self-identification as agnostic
In his 2008 feature film Religulous, Bill Maher refers to himself as agnostic.
2009: Maher Dates Cara Santa Maria
From 2009, Bill Maher dated science educator Cara Santa Maria.
2009: Maher on Passing the Affordable Care Act
In 2009, Bill Maher suggested that President Obama should prioritize passing the Affordable Care Act with a simple majority, even if it meant bypassing those who opposed it. He stated that getting 60% of the votes would be impossible.
2009: Maher Receives Richard Dawkins Award
In 2009, Bill Maher was awarded the Richard Dawkins Award by Atheist Alliance International for his contributions to promoting atheism and secular values.
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 Final Show of Larry King Live
On December 16, 2010, Maher co-emceed the final show of Larry King Live with Ryan Seacrest.
2010: Received Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 2010, Bill Maher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2011: Maher and Cara Santa Maria part ways
In 2011, Bill Maher and Cara Santa Maria ended their relationship.
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 placed himself at 6.9 on a scale of certainty about the non-existence of God, emphasizing the importance of doubt and inclusivity towards those who are not super-religious.
2011: Maher Supports Medicare-for-All
Since 2011, Bill Maher has been a consistent supporter of Medicare-for-All, advocating for a universal single-payer health care system.
February 23, 2012: Contribution to Priorities USA
On February 23, 2012, after his "Crazy Stupid Politics" special, Maher announced he was contributing $1 million to Priorities USA, the Obama SuperPAC.
2012: Maher Purchases Interest in New York Mets
In 2012, Bill Maher purchased a minority ownership interest in the New York Mets.
2012: "9/11 Liberals" Panel Discussion
In 2012, during a panel discussion with Salman Rushdie, Maher identified himself and others like Rushdie, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris as "9/11 liberals."
February 12, 2013: Gun ownership for home protection
On February 12, 2013, Bill Maher explained that he owns guns for personal home protection during his appearance on Conan. However, he does not identify as a 'proud' gun owner.
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 program, citing the threat of terrorists obtaining and using nuclear weapons as the tipping point for him. Maher described the NSA's access to private data as a "slippery slope".
2013: Executive Producer for Vice and Challenge to Donald Trump
In 2013, Maher became one of the executive producers for the HBO newsmagazine series Vice. Also, Maher offered to pay $5 million to a charity if Donald Trump produced his birth certificate.
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 finds it ironic that people 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 to ban bear hunting methods
In 2014, Bill Maher endorsed a Maine referendum to ban the use of bait, traps, and dogs to hunt bears in Maine. He specifically criticized the use of bait as an execution.
2014: "Flip a District" Contest
In 2014, Maher conducted a "Flip a District" contest to oust a "terrible, entrenched" member of Congress, ultimately selecting Republican Representative John Kline.
2014: Emmy Win for Vice
In 2014, Maher won a Primetime Emmy Award for his work as an executive producer for Vice.
2014: Maher Dates Anjulie Persaud
Since 2014, Bill Maher has been in a relationship with Canadian singer Anjulie Persaud.
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 due to some refugees may be coming from places which are governed by Sharia law or want to be.
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.
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, stating to "stop respecting their medieval bullshit under the guise of, 'It's their culture.'"
2015: Maher Wins Emmy Award for Vice
In 2015, Bill Maher won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Series or Special for Vice.
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, after Hillary Clinton won the Democratic Party primary elections, Bill Maher announced his support for her.
October 2016: Criticism of Julian Assange
In October 2016, Bill Maher criticized WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing leaks from the DNC's emails, stating that Assange had "lost his way" and "hates Hillary."
2016: Renewal of Real Time
In 2016, HBO renewed Real Time with Bill Maher through 2018, for its 15th and 16th seasons.
2016: Vice Nominated for Peabody Award
In 2016, Vice was nominated for the Peabody Award for their segment on student debt.
March 31, 2017: Response to Hillary Clinton's defeat
On March 31, 2017, Bill Maher responded on air to suggestions that Hillary Clinton was ready to end her low profile and speak out, advising her to "stay in the woods" and let someone else have a chance after she "fucked it up."
June 2017: "House nigger" controversy
In June 2017, Bill Maher came under criticism for saying in an off-the-cuff joke "I'm a house nigger" in response to guest Senator Ben Sasse on Real Time. HBO called Maher's remarks "inexcusable and tasteless" and removed the segment from future airings. Maher apologized and discussed the controversy on his show.
2017: Maher Agrees with Sam Harris on Left's Alliance with Islamists
In 2017, Bill Maher concurred with author Sam Harris that the left had allied itself with Islamists and that liberals had failed to confront Islamic extremism, defending his criticism by citing Western values.
February 2018: Maher Describes #MeToo as McCarthyism
In February 2018, Bill Maher characterized the #MeToo movement as McCarthyism.
April 13, 2018: Prediction of Trump's refusal to concede
On April 13, 2018, Bill Maher began to predict that Donald Trump would refuse to concede any loss in the 2020 United States presidential election, which he repeated over the course of 20 editions of Real Time with Bill Maher and in several press interviews.
2018: Renewal of Real Time
In 2016, HBO renewed Real Time with Bill Maher through 2018, for its 15th and 16th seasons.
March 14, 2019: Highlighting Trump's Assertions
On March 14, 2019, Bill Maher highlighted Trump's own public references that Trump was "not going to leave", and 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 the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement
In August 2019, Bill Maher denounced the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, criticizing the idea that Israelis are mostly white and Palestinians are mostly brown, implying innocence and correctness of Palestinians and Jews being wrong. Maher responded to Rep. Rashida Tlaib's call to boycott his talk show.
August 2019: Economic recession comments
In August 2019, Bill Maher said an economic recession would be "worth it" if Donald Trump did not get re-elected in 2020, stating that "we can't survive another Donald Trump term."
2019: Gorski Criticizes Maher for Claims About Vaccines
In 2019, David Gorski criticized Maher for his HBO interview with Dr. Jay Gordon and Maher's claims about vaccines, including speculation about a link between vaccines and autism, which is debunked.
January 25, 2020: 'New Rules' segment on Trump's refusal to leave
On January 25, 2020, Bill Maher dedicated a 'New Rules' end segment of Real Time with Bill Maher to the subject of Trump refusing to concede any loss in the 2020 United States presidential election.
April 2020: Criticism of equating "Wuhan virus" with racism
In April 2020, Bill Maher criticized those who equated using the term "Wuhan virus" with racism, explaining that scientists have historically named diseases after their places of origin, citing examples like Zika and Ebola. He stated this had nothing to do with Asian Americans, and has everything to do with China.
August 7, 2020: Continued Predictions about Trump's refusal
By August 7, 2020, Bill Maher continued to predict that Donald Trump would refuse to concede any loss in the 2020 United States presidential election, reiterating concerns about potential violence by armed Trump supporters attempting to keep Trump in power.
August 15, 2020: Prediction of Trump not leaving office
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 media coverage of Trump's threats
On September 25, 2020, during Real Time, Bill Maher criticized the framing of a New York Times story about Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, asserting that the media "should have amplified" the severity of Trump's threats.
2020: Maher Sells Interest in New York Mets
In 2020, Bill Maher sold his minority ownership interest in the New York Mets.
2020: Maher Supports Chris Matthews Against Allegations of Sexual Harassment
In 2020, Bill Maher supported Chris Matthews against allegations of sexual harassment and downplayed allegations against Al Franken.
January 2021: Maher Promotes COVID-19 Lab Leak Theory
In January 2021, Bill Maher promoted the COVID-19 lab leak theory.
March 2021: Criticism of China's treatment of Uyghurs
In March 2021, Bill Maher criticized China's treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, and stated that the United States has "lost" to China in the "battle for the 21st century". He compared China's "40,000 kilometers of high-speed rail" to his own country, which had none.
April 16, 2021: Maher Calls COVID-19 Coverage "Panic Porn"
On April 16, 2021, Bill Maher criticized media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it "panic porn" and suggesting that biased sources led 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.
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: Decline to run for president
In January 2022, Bill Maher declined to run in the 2024 United States presidential election following speculation by Dana Perino.
March 2022: Maher Criticizes Democratic Party's Approach to Sex Education
In March 2022, Bill Maher criticized the Democratic Party's approach to sex education and defended Republicans for pushing the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act.
March 21, 2022: Launched Club Random Podcast
On March 21, 2022, Maher launched his podcast Club Random, featuring interviews in his home bar.
May 2022: Maher on Increase in LGBT Identification and Transgender Health Care
In May 2022, Bill Maher commented on the rise in LGBT identification, suggesting it was partly due to increased freedom and partly due to trends. He also criticized puberty blockers and other transgender health care for trans youth, referring to it as "literally experimenting on children".
2022: Blaming Hollywood for mass shootings
In 2022, Bill Maher blamed mass shootings in part due to Hollywood romanticization of gun violence in movies and stated he is glad that guns exist saying it "levels the playing field".
2022: Criticism of 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 Diversity Priorities
In 2022, Bill Maher criticized the Democratic Party for "checking boxes" in regard to candidates of different identity groups, including race, and prioritizing diversity over merit. He has also spoken out against critical race theory but supports teaching the history of racism.
2022: Podcast Club Random Launched
In 2022, Bill Maher launched his podcast, Club Random.
September 13, 2023: Maher Announces Restart of His HBO Show
On September 13, 2023, Bill Maher announced his plans to restart a version of his HBO show on Twitter.
September 2023: Maher Criticizes the 2023 Writers Guild of America Strike
In September 2023, Bill Maher criticized aspects of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike on his Club Random podcast, expressing disagreement with demands he viewed as unrealistic and creatively restrictive.
2023: Maher Discusses Spiritual Queries with Deepak Chopra
In 2023, Bill Maher discussed some of his spiritual queries and interests with Deepak Chopra despite being critical of religion.
February 2024: Didn't Release Kanye West Interview
In February 2024, Maher decided not to release a two-hour interview with Kanye West for Club Random due to antisemitic comments by the rapper.
March 2024: Starting a Podcast Network: Club Random Studios
In March 2024, Maher announced he was starting a podcast network called Club Random Studios with Chris Casey and Chuck LaBella.
May 2024: Announcement of Stopping Stand-up
In May 2024, Maher told Jerry Seinfeld on the Club Random podcast that he would stop doing stand-up after this year.
July 2024: Call for Biden to decline nomination
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.
March 2025: Criticism of NPR
In March 2025, 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, 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 why kids were not protesting this.
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