Rewind: "Frasier" stars John Mahoney & Jane Leeves - 1995 on-set interview

I had the pleasure of interviewing the cast members of "Frasier" multiple times. Here's my sit-down with the late John Mahoney and co-star Jane Leeves on the Paramount set of the show.

[@jonathanfunnell4167]

I LOVE JOHN MAHONEY WITH ALL MY HEART AND ALWAYS WILL THE WORLD IS A LESSER PLACE WITHOUT THIS WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL MAN

[@SalaamOseni]

You and me both, mate ❤️

[@jasonmacneil2256]

Amen Brother, amen.

[@davidcarrol110]

Totally agree. The evolution of Martin Crane over many years from a cantankerous ex-cop to an empathetic, loving Grandfather was played brilliantly. He was also a dapper dresser.

[@robertszekely8686]

This was an absolutely great series. Both John and Jane played their characters very well, as did the rest of the cast. RIP JOHN MAHONEY.

[@BibtheBoulder]

For me, the greatest comedy to ever come out of the USA. Sadly missed....

[@scarletredmagic6724]

It's soo awesome to know that john and Jane are both from England 🥰

[@finster1968]

Love these two! Jane Leeves is so strikingly gorgeous with an equally beautiful personality.

[@septembervirgo3723]

John Mahoney, my god he was so handsome💜

[@omegamanGXE]

Silver fox

[@VladSicoe]

I loved Frasier, it was an absolutely hilarious show, in my opinion much better than Cheers. This was all due to the fantastic cast!

[@takeapictureitlllastlonger5768]

Both shows were just heartwarming funny easy watching gems.

[@melissahudkins1344]

Strangely, I never watched an episode of this show, when it first ran on network television, because I was working the pm shift @ the hospital. But, I started watching it, when I took my lunch breaks @ work, working night shift @ the hospital. While, my colleagues wanted to watch either home improvement shows, true crime re-enactments or reality shows, I always wanted to watch something that made me forget about work for awhile & make me laugh! I started watching the Hallmark channel, watching “The Golden Girls” & then watching “Frasier”, when I wasn’t able to take a lunch break, when the first show was on. Gradually, I found out what a great show “Frasier” was & when Hulu started offering it, I started watching it faithfully! I’ve watched all 11 seasons of “Frasier” & I have watched the first two episodes of the reboot & I’m so glad to have it back on again!

[@CanuckleheadHistory]

Oh my word, John Mahoney was wonderful.

[@7775Kevin]

These two were such a huge part of the success of Frasier. What a great show

[@sgtpepper1138]

He doesn't get enough credit as one of the great TV dads.

[@mantleofelijah]

These two were great friends in real life. John Mahoney initially came from Manchester which is where Jane’s character hails from.

[@jamalselesi182]

R.I.P. John Mahoney (1940-2018)

[@nateglass8767]

My favorite Martin line, "Boppuhtee-Bop-Bop-Bop!"

[@barryh.4220]

It's 27 years ago granted, but Jane Leeves looks beautiful there, she's so classy.

[@omegamanGXE]

She looked like mom in the 1990s

[@lindaeasley5606]

Most people don't know that he's from Manchester , England and came to the states as a teenager. It's strange to not hear him speak with an English accent

[@adamharris3500]

Blackpool i think actually

[@SvenTviking]

So Jane faked Martin’s real accent!

[@theguitardude5613]

Blackpool.

[@infjintegrityvsnarcissism7295]

Wow he started acting at 37, I am a 36 year old model and ex firefighter who just made the jump into acting, on the advice of my modeling agent.

[@JamesSinger]

Do you have a video link to that? I'd like to hear that.

[@clareomalley5644]

Its so that John has passed , he was a wonderful actor and had a very warm personality.

[@kindnessyet2159]

I love her natural accent, so beautiful

[@glenbaker8412]

Yeah she’s from Essex which is a very different accent to Manchester

[@mattm3729]

@@glenbaker8412i think in the show she does an Essex-Manchester accent lol

[@user-ix2dk8rb8s]

Bless you John, for bringing us such joy with your amazing sense of humour through the years RIP

[@ohokyeah]

I love that the interviewer mentioned the limp 😂 He was so great, I'd look at scenes where Marty was off over in the corner of the shot and he'd still be perfectly in character. I wasn't totally sure until his dance number toward the end of the series.

[@anitawalker1535]

Love John, he was hilarious on Frasier

[@infectioustomfoolery]

You're a very good interviewer! You ask respectful questions and let them talk and everything, that's rare nowadays

[@davidcarrol110]

After Seinfeld ended, this was the last great US sitcom. Much love for late John Mahoney With that fantastic voice and presence!

[@omegamanGXE]

Frasier was a hundred times better than unfunny ass Seinfeld

[@riz984]

Frasier SHITS on Seinfeld

[@davidcarrol110]

@@riz984 I just hope Kelsey pulls off the reboot. I just wished they had cloned John Mahoney😥

[@riz984]

@@davidcarrol110 I watched the first two episodes and I enjoyed it, of course it wasn't the same - nothing ever is but I did finish the episodes wanting to see more.

[@leopold7562]

I always find it pleasing that Jane Leeves, an Essex girl, played a Mancunian in the show, alongside John Mahoney, a man originally from Manchester. I don’t know if the writers were aware of that, or if it was just a bizarre coincidence

[@marthabradas8873]

I loved these characters and will always enjoy watching Frazier

[@kathleenmaclachlan1541]

Nice interview. Thanks for the upload.

[@gordonissocoollike]

I love him a great actor

[@Lobxx1]

I love John for pointing out the inequality in show business where men are allowed to age and still get work and women are continually shamed and replaced.

[@Smileater]

I also loved that comment! Greetings from Peru 🇵🇪

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

That's not what he said. He said it was easier for older men and easier for younger women. Wtf does "shamed" even mean? lol. This generation of hyper-privileged women who have bought into feminism and think they're such victims are a trip.

[@noogate2672]

That's not even remotely close to what he said. He said that there are fewer older men competing for parts. Do you want to talk about the inequality in other jobs? Sanitation for example. Or oil rigs.

[@couch_gag]

both of you need to chill out, awfully sensitive. Yes, fewer women work on oil rigs than men, what does that have to do with it being easier for older men to succeed in the entertainment industry inherently, than women?

[@Cheesyenchilady]

@@couch_gagJohns comment simply meant that it’s easier for men because there are fewer people going after the roles. Many more women stay in the industry even if they hadn’t caught a break yet

[@3henry214]

Fun fact.. Not only was Jane Leeves a dancer, she was one of the "Hill's Angels" dancers on the Benny Hill Show.

[@Cody-zd2ye]

When I discovered John was actually born in Blackpool in the UK this is where I was born and still live .I love Marty his character I see a little of myself in him although my choice of dog is a husky called cody

[@startracker5895]

Jane was stunning is those days. Also a very good actress as she’s so different from Daphne.

[@ianmccown]

She is still pretty now ❤️

[@animal0mother]

John speaks much faster and is visibly more animated than Martin.

[@christineh4064]

Such great interview questions and great energy it must have been a light shooting day. Love this interview.

[@neilmcdonald9164]

Interesting to hear Jane Leeves real voice/accent 🎩

[@susanparker1374]

Love this man! ❤️🇨🇦

[@brettroscoe007]

She was in Dave Lee Roth's California Girls video.

[@helmsly2010]

Nice interview

[@EarsBeEazy]

This is what it was like 20 years ago this is how people had conversations they didn't interrupt they maintained eye contact and could form coherent sentences, all while sitting still.

[@Russellye5man1]

😂

[@christineh4064]

So true. I would attribute that to our now bite size marketing vernacular. Complete sentences and verbs are a thing of the past and late 20th century. I wonder what kind of communication or lack thereof the next 20 years will bring.

[@davidkartwright9003]

RIP John Mahoney

[@westhamunited67]

So charming❤

[@echoesyt]

Awesome

[@richardmartin4966]

Very true Jonathan 👍

[@Chicago611]

They were my favorite in Frazier

[@christineh4064]

One thing I really liked about Frasier is the dichotomy of a psychologist being so deeply unaware of the simple answer and interpretation. The writing and chemistry between the characters and the profound use of articulation whether it was a verbal reaction of sarcasm or wit, or the physical comedy as a response to the verbal comedy. Sigh~ Could we ever replicate the synergy of language, humor and great acting again? And one notable thing about Frasier is that each character was inevitably quirky in their one way as the show went on they didn’t become characters of themselves like Friends or some parts of Cheers. Each character organically evolved.

[@christineh4064]

*in their own way

[@Pilot.0101]

You can still hear his English accent inflections in his voice. When he speaks "in it" and some others his mannerisms and accent come through.

[@Summer97_]

My favourite sitcom next to Raymond, Jack and Karen, Seinfeld, Cheers, and King of Queens just for Arthur.

[@no288]

Lucky you to be on the Frasier set and talking to them. But why the close-up? you're missing out on the facial expressions from the other cast member to your questions

[@SB-se7vb]

This interview was conducted in 1995. Are you having a psychotic break or something?

[@no288]

@@SB-se7vb So you want me to comment on this back in 1995 when there was no KZbin? I see ; )

[@SB-se7vb]

@@no288 No, but how do you know the close ups in this video weren't done in the original broadcast?

[@no288]

@@SB-se7vb I see, so you have a problem with my comment ‘cus i should imagine there was another version of this footage that i can’t see? Really?

[@x-ray3431]

@@no288 maybe the others were picking their 👃 and flicking boogers, can't show that it's unprofessional. There's your potential answer.

[@liamnevilleviolist1809]

4:15/4:16 .... it feels like Ms Leeves knew about the romance happening, even though this interview was conducted VERY early on. Just... *something* tells me that a producer and/or script-writer told her: "Yes. It WILL eventually happen in the last few seasons".

[@maureensullivan7448]

As a British actor, he played an American better than Americans do!

[@msdixieblues]

Wonder what Elton John video Jane had done? Really nice interview.

[@insidetheblackmusic]

Not sure, but she was also in David Lee Roth's "California Girls" as the woman with the baby. She doesn't dance in that one, though.

[@ParadiseVids]

The interviewer asked a good question. How do men fans react to Jane in contrast to women fans? Good question. I always love hearing that stuff. She found her husband, though! So great things!

[@georgehenderson7783]

Mahoney was great as Moe in Tin Men with Danny Devito and Richard Dreyfuss.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I never liked Niles having physical love interests - especially when he and Daphne got together. I never thought David had the chemistry to pull off a convincing heterosexual. He seemed very awkward in the role of Niles after that. Don’t get me wrong. He is an absolutely brilliant actor nonetheless. It’s just that his playing off of Leaves’s character seemed forced, and I wish writers would have seen that and left Niles as this sort of adorable, stuffy, pompous “married bachelor” type. It worked brilliantly for Hyde-Pierce. Mahoney on the other hand, also being gay in real life, came off seamlessly when being given romantic scenes. The show would not have been what it was without him. Absolutely phenomenal actor. I almost have the same problem with Daphne as I do Niles. Later writers messed with the brilliant characterization that Leaves and earlier writers lent to the character of Daphne. Her persona changed right along with her North country accent. It’s the writers I’m at odds with, not the actors. Every single member of this cast are heavy hitters, and made this show the masterpiece it still is today.

[@emilydelreal9657]

I can’t find anywhere conclusive on the internet that John Mahoney was gay.

[@shanebell2514]

Mahoney wasn`t gay, where do you get that from?

[@healmyroots]

A bit rude that he forgot another actress' name-Jane just blinked and stared when he mentioned that.

[@SL-vi4tk]

very rude of him... Jane did have that initial look of wondering if he's even listening to her.

[@7775Kevin]

Yeah that was a mistake. Forgetting an actress’s name is not the first thing another actress wants to hear

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

Not his fault she was forgettable

[@Ian-gw2vx]

John mahoney was from Blackpool. he certainly lost the lancashire accent.

[@glenbaker8412]

Strange hearing her speak without a Manc accent

[@scottm1846]

please tell me this isnt AI.

[@Retrohertz]

It's not AI.

[@innercircle341]

Ahh... started at 37. That is why he always came across so poorly. I could never grasp what was wrong. Now I know

[@THEpopelonergan]

DAPHNE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MANCUNIAN BUT SHE SEEMS TO HAVE A LEEDS ACCENT FOR THE DURATION OF THE SHOW!

[@echoesyt]

Awesome