Biography
Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 21, 1955) is an American actor, producer, and singer. He rose to prominence for his portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the NBC sitcom Cheers (1984–1993) and its spin-off Frasier (1993–2004, and again from 2023 to 2024). With over two decades on air, this stands as one of the longest-running roles by a single live-action actor in primetime television history. Grammer has earned numerous awards, including six Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Tony Award.
Trained as an actor at Juilliard and the Old Globe Theatre, Grammer made his professional debut as Lennox in the 1981 Broadway revival of Macbeth. The following year, he played Cassio alongside Christopher Plummer and James Earl Jones in Othello. In mid-1983, he appeared with Mandy Patinkin in the original off-Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George. He has since starred in leading roles in productions such as Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, My Fair Lady, Big Fish, and Finding Neverland.
In film, Grammer is recognized for his role as Dr. Hank McCoy / Beast in the superhero movies X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), and The Marvels (2023). Other notable films include Down Periscope (1996), The Pentagon Wars (1998), and Swing Vote (2008). He is also known for voice roles in Anastasia (1997), Toy Story 2 (1999), and as Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons (1990–present). His guest appearances include sitcoms like 30 Rock (2010–2012), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2016), and Modern Family (2017). For his role as a corrupt mayor in the Starz political series Boss (2011–2012), he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama.
In early 2010, Grammer returned to Broadway in the musical revival of La Cage aux Folles, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. In mid-2016, he won a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer of the musical revival The Color Purple. In early 2019, he starred as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum. In late 2023, The Telegraph hailed Grammer as one of "the finest actors" of his generation. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 22, 2001.
11 wins and 19 nominations
