Sean Maher
Encyclopedia
Sean Maher is an American
actor
, best known for his role as Simon Tam in the science fiction
television
series Firefly
and followup movie Serenity
.
, Maher trained at New York University
where he earned his drama
degree in 1997. He acted on stage
in several productions, including Yerma
and Into the Woods
.
show The $treet
, and he has also appeared on the television series Party of Five
(as Adam Matthews) and on CSI: Miami
.
He reprised his role from Firefly in the film Serenity
(2005). Maher was also cast as a chief resident in a hospital on the new series Halley's Comet. He appeared in the 2005 Lifetime movie The Dive From Clausen's Pier
as Michelle Trachtenberg
's new love interest. He also appeared as Brian Piccolo in the 2001 remake of Brian's Song
.
In 2006, he appeared in the television movie Wedding Wars
. After taking a brief break from acting, Maher came back to TV in 2009 as a guest star in Lifetime Television
's pilot episode of Drop Dead Diva
, followed by 2010 guest appearances in the second season of The Mentalist
(CBS), the first season of Human Target
(FOX) and the second season of Warehouse 13
(on Syfy
).
In 2011 Maher landed a role in the television series The Playboy Club
. He plays Sean, a closeted gay man who is in a sham marriage with a closeted lesbian Playboy Bunny
.
as a platform.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his role as Simon Tam in the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series Firefly
Firefly (TV series)
Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear....
and followup movie Serenity
Serenity (film)
Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship...
.
Early life
After graduating from Byram Hills High SchoolByram Hills High School
Byram Hills High School is a four-year co-educational public secondary school located in Armonk, New York. Its principal is Mr. Chris Borsari and its vice principals are Chris Walsh and Ken Cotrone. It is the only secondary school within the Byram Hills Central School District and serves...
, Maher trained at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
where he earned his drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
degree in 1997. He acted on stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
in several productions, including Yerma
Yerma
Yerma is a play by the Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. It was written in 1934, and first performed that same year. Lorca describes the play as "a tragic poem."-Plot:...
and Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
.
Career
Maher starred as the title character, a rookie police officer, on the short-lived TV series Ryan Caulfield: Year One. In 2000 he was one of the main characters on the FoxFox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
show The $treet
The $treet
The $treet is an American television drama series that aired on Fox in 2000. 11 episodes were produced and 6 aired in the U.S.The series was about a small brokerage house called Belmont Stevens located in New York and the lives of its employees. Freddie Sacker was one of the most notable...
, and he has also appeared on the television series Party of Five
Party of Five
Party of Five is an American teen drama television series that aired on Fox for six seasons, from September 12, 1994, until May 3, 2000.Critically acclaimed, the show suffered from low ratings and after its first season was slated for cancellation...
(as Adam Matthews) and on CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
.
He reprised his role from Firefly in the film Serenity
Serenity (film)
Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship...
(2005). Maher was also cast as a chief resident in a hospital on the new series Halley's Comet. He appeared in the 2005 Lifetime movie The Dive From Clausen's Pier
The Dive From Clausen's Pier
The Dive From Clausen's Pier is a 2005 Lifetime original film based on an Ann Packer novel directed by Harry Winer and starring Will Estes, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Sean Maher. It premiered on July 25, 2005 on Lifetime....
as Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Christine Trachtenberg is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Dawn Summers in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl...
's new love interest. He also appeared as Brian Piccolo in the 2001 remake of Brian's Song
Brian's Song
Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo , a Wake Forest University football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with Chicago Bears running back teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale...
.
In 2006, he appeared in the television movie Wedding Wars
Wedding Wars
Wedding Wars is a 2006 LGBT romantic comedy film about gay marriage, but also family and politics. It handles a very sensitive emotional issue both lightly and seriously...
. After taking a brief break from acting, Maher came back to TV in 2009 as a guest star in Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
's pilot episode of Drop Dead Diva
Drop Dead Diva
Drop Dead Diva is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 12, 2009. The hour-long series, which was created by Josh Berman, is produced by Sony Pictures Television...
, followed by 2010 guest appearances in the second season of The Mentalist
The Mentalist
The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
(CBS), the first season of Human Target
Human Target
The Human Target is the name of two fictional comic book characters that have appeared in books published by DC Comics. The first is Fred Venable, who appears in Detective Comics #201 , by Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff....
(FOX) and the second season of Warehouse 13
Warehouse 13
Warehouse 13 is an American fantasy television series that premiered on July 7, 2009 on the Syfy network.Executive-produced by Jack Kenny and David Simkins, the dramatic comedy from Universal Media Studios has been described as borrowing much from 1980s television series Friday the 13th: The...
(on Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
).
In 2011 Maher landed a role in the television series The Playboy Club
The Playboy Club
The Playboy Club is an American television series that ran on NBC from September 19, 2011 to October 3, 2011. Set in 1961, the series centers around the employees of the original Playboy Club operating in Chicago....
. He plays Sean, a closeted gay man who is in a sham marriage with a closeted lesbian Playboy Bunny
Playboy Bunny
A Playboy Bunny is a waitress at the Playboy Club. The Playboy Clubs were originally open from 1960 to 1988. The Club re-opened in one location in The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas in 2006...
.
Personal life
Maher is openly gay and in a relationship with his partner, Paul, with whom he has two adopted children - Sophia Rose and Liam. Following Sophia's birth, Maher took two years off from acting to be a stay-at-home dad. He made the decision to come out publicly in 2011, using his role as a closeted gay man on The Playboy ClubThe Playboy Club
The Playboy Club is an American television series that ran on NBC from September 19, 2011 to October 3, 2011. Set in 1961, the series centers around the employees of the original Playboy Club operating in Chicago....
as a platform.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Ryan Caulfield: Year One | Ryan Caulfield | 7 episodes |
| 2000 | Party of Five Party of Five Party of Five is an American teen drama television series that aired on Fox for six seasons, from September 12, 1994, until May 3, 2000.Critically acclaimed, the show suffered from low ratings and after its first season was slated for cancellation... |
Adam Matthews | 7 episodes |
| 2000–2001 | Chris McConnell | 12 episodes | |
| 2001 | Hostage Rescue Team | TV movie | |
| 2001 | Brian's Song Brian's Song Brian's Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo , a Wake Forest University football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with Chicago Bears running back teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale... |
Brian Piccolo | TV movie |
| 2002–2003 | Firefly Firefly (TV series) Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear.... |
Dr. Simon Tam | 14 episodes |
| 2003 | CSI: Miami CSI: Miami CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.... |
Carson Mackie | Episode: "Spring Break" |
| 2005 | Halley's Comet | Bret Fennow | TV movie |
| 2005 | Kilroy | TV movie | |
| 2005 | Serenity Serenity (film) Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship... |
Dr. Simon Tam | Film sequel to Firefly |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts... |
Conor Donovan | Episode: "Mended Hearts" |
| 2005 | Living 'til the End | Jack Whilton | |
| 2006 | Wedding Wars Wedding Wars Wedding Wars is a 2006 LGBT romantic comedy film about gay marriage, but also family and politics. It handles a very sensitive emotional issue both lightly and seriously... |
Ted Moore | TV movie |
| 2009 | Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 12, 2009. The hour-long series, which was created by Josh Berman, is produced by Sony Pictures Television... |
Marcus Newsome | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2010 | Jasper / Wilson | Episode: "Bleeding Heart" | |
| 2010 | Human Target | Aaron Cooper | Episode: "Embassy Row" |
| 2010 | Warehouse 13 Warehouse 13 Warehouse 13 is an American fantasy television series that premiered on July 7, 2009 on the Syfy network.Executive-produced by Jack Kenny and David Simkins, the dramatic comedy from Universal Media Studios has been described as borrowing much from 1980s television series Friday the 13th: The... |
Sheldon | Episode "Mild Mannered" |
| 2011 | Make It or Break It | Marcus | 5 episodes |
| 2011 | The Playboy Club The Playboy Club The Playboy Club is an American television series that ran on NBC from September 19, 2011 to October 3, 2011. Set in 1961, the series centers around the employees of the original Playboy Club operating in Chicago.... |
Sean | |
| 2012 | Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing (2012 film) Much Ado About Nothing is an independent film made by Joss Whedon and based on the Shakespeare play of the same name. The film is due to be released in 2012.-Production:... |
Don John |
External links
- Sean Maher at TV.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...