Sean Maher

Sean Maher (/mɑːr/ MAR;^[2] born April 16, 1975) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Simon Tam in the science fiction television series Firefly and follow-up movie Serenity.

Early life

Maher was born in Pleasantville, New York to Joseph and Margaret Maher.^[3] After graduating from Byram Hills High School, Maher trained at New York University where he earned his drama degree in 1997.^[4] He acted on stage in several productions, including Yerma and Into the Woods.^[5]

Career

Maher starred as the title character, a rookie police officer, on the short-lived TV series Ryan Caulfield: Year One. In 2000 he played one of the main characters on the short-lived (dropped after seven episodes) Fox series The $treet, and he has also appeared on the television series Party of Five (as Adam Matthews) and on '.

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 network 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 played Sean, a closeted gay man who is in a sham marriage with a closeted lesbian Playboy Bunny. He appeared in eight episodes, in 2011 and 2012, in another series, Make It or Break It, as the character Marcus. He played the villainous Don John in Joss Whedon's 2012 adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing.

In 2014, Maher voiced Dick Grayson/Nightwing in Son of Batman, a direct-to-video animated film. It is part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. This was followed by the same role in Justice League vs. Teen Titans and Batman: Bad Blood in 2016 and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract in 2017.^[6]

Personal life

Maher publicly came out as gay in 2011, using his role as a closeted gay man on The Playboy Club as a platform.^[7] He and his husband Paul have two adopted children: a daughter and a son. Following the birth of their daughter in 2007, Maher took two years off from acting to be a stay-at-home dad.^[7]

Filmography

Film

Television

Other media

References

1. ^ Greg Hernandez (April 7, 2016). "Openly gay actor Sean Maher of Firefly fame is now married man". Gay Star News
2. ^ "Sean Maher On Voicing Nightwing". YouTube. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
3. ^ "Sean Maher biography". SeanMaher.info. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
4. ^ "Sean Maher Firefly profile". (August 29, 2007). BuddyTV. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. ^ "Sean Maher biography". SeanMaher.info. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
6. ^ "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
7. ^ Stransky, Tanner (September 26, 2011). "'Playboy Club' star Sean Maher opens up about his sexuality: 'This is my coming out ball'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
8. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (March 27, 2019). "Batman". IGN. Hush Movie - Exclusive first look, Photo and voice cast news. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
9. ^ Workman, Robert (June 26, 2019). "Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans first trailer divides & conquers". Superhero Hype. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
10. ^ Cordero, Rosy (March 15, 2026). "Nathan Fillion Says ‘Firefly’ Animated Series In Development With Co-Stars Set To Reprise Roles; Concept Art Revealed"
11. ^ "Adam Shecter New Year". Past Exhibitions. New York, NY: Eleven Rivington Gallery. 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
12. ^ Fowler, Matt (March 11, 2015). "Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion launch Indiegogo campaign for Con Man". IGN. Retrieved March 13, 2015.