Three-time Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer is the first actor in television history to receive multiple Emmy nominations for his performance in the same role on three different series. He received two nominations for his original portrayal of Dr. Frasier Crane on “Cheers,” another for his guest appearance in the role on NBC’s “Wings” and six nominations, which have earned him three Emmy Awards as Outstanding Lead Actor, for his work on “Frasier.”
Grammer was born on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and was raised by his mother and grandfather, first in New Jersey, and then in Florida. After the death of his grandfather, the 12-year-old Grammer was drawn to the works of William Shakespeare, which fostered his love of the English language.
Grammer’s first acting performance was in a high school production of “The Little Foxes,” and with the encouragement of his English and drama teachers, he decided to pursue acting as a career. After two years at the Juilliard School, he was accepted by the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, where he spent three years performing in classic works by Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw.
He later performed in regional theaters across the United States, including at the Guthrie in Minneapolis, before appearing in the off-Broadway productions of “Plenty,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “A Month in the Country” and the Obie Award-winning “Quartermaine’s Terms.” His Broadway credits include “Macbeth” and “Othello,” and one of his most recent stage appearances was in the title role of a production of “Richard II” at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.
Grammer recently starred in the feature film “Fifteen Minutes” for New Line Cinema, which also starred Robert DeNiro and Edward Burns. Grammer’s additional feature-film credits include the voice of the prospector, Stinky Pete, in the critically acclaimed animated film “Toy Story 2,” and the film “Down Periscope.”
Among Grammer’s television credits are roles on the daytime dramas “Another World,” “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” He also made a guest appearance in the premiere episode of “Kate & Allie” and had parts in the miniseries “Kennedy” and the NBC movies “London Suite,” “Dance ’til Dawn,” “Beyond Suspicion” and “The Innocent.” He hosted an hour-long NBC salute to Jack Benny as well as the 1998 Grammy Awards. Additionally, he starred in the cable television movies “Pentagon Wars” and “The Sports Pages” with Bob Newhart.
Grammer, who joined “Cheers” in 1984, has received two Golden Globe Awards, an American Comedy Award and a People’s Choice Award in addition to his Emmys. His autobiography, “So Far ...,” was published in the fall of 1995.
Grammer and his wife live in the Los Angeles area with his four dogs and several horses. He enjoys singing, playing piano, golf, tennis and sailing on his 37-foot boat. His birthday is February 21.
