| − | Maher was born in [[New York City]], the son of Julie (née Berman), a nurse, and William Maher, Sr., a network news editor and [[radio announcer]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.filmreference.com/film/32/Bill-Maher.html |title = Bill Maher Biography (1956–)|accessdate = January 17, 2008|publisher = Film Reference}}</ref> He was raised in his [[Irish American]] father's [[Catholic]] religion, remaining unaware that his mother was [[Jews|Jew]]ish until his early teenage years.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0205/24/lkl.00.html|title = Interview With Bill Maher|date = May 24, 2002|accessdate = January 17, 2008|publisher = CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | + | Maher was born in [[New York City]], the son of Julie (née Berman), a nurse, and William Maher, Sr., a network news editor and radio announcer.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.filmreference.com/film/32/Bill-Maher.html |title = Bill Maher Biography (1956–)|accessdate = January 17, 2008|publisher = Film Reference}}</ref> He was raised in his [[Irish American]] father's [[Catholic]] religion, remaining unaware that his mother was [[Jews|Jew]]ish until his early teenage years.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0205/24/lkl.00.html|title = Interview With Bill Maher|date = May 24, 2002|accessdate = January 17, 2008|publisher = CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |
| | }}</ref> When Maher was 13, his father disagreed with the [[Catholic Church]]'s position on [[birth control]] and stopped taking Maher and his sister to Catholic church services.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081221013449/http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/10/03/Diversions/Getting.Blasphemous.In.The.Presence.Of.Bill.Maher-3467097.shtml |title=Getting Blasphemous in the Presence of Bill Maher |publisher=Media.www.diamondbackonline.com |date=Oct. 3, 2008|archivedate=Dec. 21, 2008 |accessdate=Aug 13, 2012|url=http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/10/03/Diversions/Getting.Blasphemous.In.The.Presence.Of.Bill.Maher-3467097.shtml}}</ref> | | }}</ref> When Maher was 13, his father disagreed with the [[Catholic Church]]'s position on [[birth control]] and stopped taking Maher and his sister to Catholic church services.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081221013449/http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/10/03/Diversions/Getting.Blasphemous.In.The.Presence.Of.Bill.Maher-3467097.shtml |title=Getting Blasphemous in the Presence of Bill Maher |publisher=Media.www.diamondbackonline.com |date=Oct. 3, 2008|archivedate=Dec. 21, 2008 |accessdate=Aug 13, 2012|url=http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/10/03/Diversions/Getting.Blasphemous.In.The.Presence.Of.Bill.Maher-3467097.shtml}}</ref> |
| − | Maher grew up in [[River Vale, New Jersey]], and graduated from [[Pascack Hills High School]] in [[Montvale, New Jersey|Montvale]] in 1974. He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[English literature|English]] and [[history]] from [[Cornell University]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-ivyleague/18/ |title=Entertainment; Ivy League Celebrities |publisher=Comcast.net|accessdate=Aug 13, 2012}}</ref> Following college, Maher worked as a standup comedian and television actor. | + | Maher grew up in River Vale, New Jersey, and graduated from Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey in 1974. He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in English literature and [[history]] from [[Cornell University]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-ivyleague/18/ |title=Entertainment; Ivy League Celebrities |publisher=Comcast.net|accessdate=Aug 13, 2012}}</ref> Following college, Maher worked as a standup comedian and television actor. |