A representative for John Mahoney says the actor known for playing the cranky dad on “Frasier” has died.   He was 77.

The news comes from Mahoney’s longtime manager, Paul Martino –  who says Mahoney died Sunday in Chicago after a brief hospitalization.

The cause of death was not immediately announced.

Mahoney played Martin Crane, father of Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier and David Hyde Pierce’s Niles.

The series was a  hit spinoff of “Cheers,” and aired from 1993 to 2004.

The British-born Mahoney made Chicago his adopted hometown.