While everyone was busy tuning into Sunday's Super Bowl spectacle, actor John Mahoney passed away at the age of 77.
His publicist confirmed the sad news the following evening, revealing that Mahoney was at a Chicago-area hospice in the days leading up to his death.
According to The Guardian, the actor died from complications of throat cancer.
Mahoney was best known for his role as Martin Crane, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles's (David Hyde Peirce) father one one of TV's most beloved spin-off sitcoms Frasier.
In recent years, Mahoney had a recurring role on Hot in Cleveland. He played the role of Roy, the love interest of Betty White's character, Elka, from 2011 to 2014. His last television appearance was in Foyle's War in 2015.
Mahoney's career spanned over three decades, and his filmography includes appearances in classics like The American President. He had stints on Cheers as well as 3rd Rock from the Sun, and he also did some voice work for the animated films Antz and Atlantis.
The notoriously private star has claimed to have been in many relationships, but he has never been married, and had no children.
Still, he was a father figure to many, including some of Hollywood's most popular entertainers. Mahoney's former colleagues and co-stars, including Grammer, took to social media to pay tribute to the late star.
John Cusack, who worked with Mahoney for the 1988 film Eight Men Out, sent out a tweet calling Mahoney a "great actor" and a "lovely kind human."
He added, "Any time you saw him you left feeling better."
Actor Zach Braff, who starred alongside Mahoney in The Broken Heart's Club, also chimed in with a heartfelt message.
It took some time for the legendary actor's Frasier co-stars to comment on the news of his passing, but their tributes were nonetheless emotional.
Casting director Jeff Greenberg posted a photo of the cast alongside Mahoney and captioned it: "The great John Mahoney passed away today at age 77. I've not known a kinder man nor more brilliant actor. We were all blessed to have spent 11 glorious years together."
However, it was Grammer's short but poignant statement that tugged at the heartstrings the most and left many teary-eyed.
"He was my father," Grammer, who lost his dad when he was just 13, told People. "I loved him."
Prior to starring in a string of classic movies and Frasier, the British-born actor taught English at Western Illinois University. He developed a passion for theater and decided to pursue acting as a full-time career in the 70s.
After stepping out of the limelight in 2015, Mahoney spent lived in Oak Park, Illinois, until his death.