Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 21, 1955) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, director, producer, writer, voice artist, and comedian, best known for portraying Frasier Crane in Cheers and Frasier. He is also known as the voice for Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons and Stinky Pete in Toy Story 2.
Early life
Grammer was born Allen Kelsey Grammer in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on February 21, 1955 to Sally Cranmer, a housewife and vocalist,[1] and Frank Allen Grammer, Jr., a bar owner and musician.[2] His parents' marriage ended when he was very young; his mother took him to live with her, and he was partly raised in New Jersey by his grandparents, Evangeline Dimmock and Gordon Cranmer. Grammer's family life has been marked by repeated tragedies. He went to school at Pine Crest in Fort Lauderdale. In 1968, when Grammer was thirteen, his father, whom he had only seen twice since his parents' divorce, was murdered on the front lawn of his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands;[2] in 1975, his sister was raped and murdered after being abducted outside a Red Lobster restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colorado where her boyfriend worked.[3] Grammer has sworn to prevent the murderer from being paroled.[4] Grammer, who was 20 at the time and enrolled in the Juilliard School acting program, stopped attending classes and was asked to leave, citing a lack of focus.[5] In 1980, his twin half-brothers were killed in a SCUBA diving accident.[6]
Career
Early career
After leaving Juilliard, he had a three-year internship with the Old Globe Theater in San Diego in the late 1970s before a stint in 1980 at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He made his Broadway debut in 1981 as Lennox in Macbeth, taking the lead role when Philip Anglim withdrew after receiving negative reviews. In 1982 he appeared with Christine Baranski in the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine production Sunday in the Park with George with Mandy Patinkin, and then a featured role of Cassio in a Broadway revival of Othello with James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer.
Rise to fame
Grammer's television career began in 1983 when he portrayed Stephen Smith in the NBC mini-series Kennedy. Grammer came to broader public attention as Dr. Frasier Crane in the TV sitcom Cheers. Grammer's former Juilliard classmate and Broadway co-star Patinkin suggested Grammer to the New York casting director, and he got the job.[7] The character became the center of the successful spin off Frasier.
Grammer won a number of Emmys and Golden Globes for his work on Frasier. He was the first American actor ever to be nominated for multiple Emmy awards for portraying the same character on three different television shows (Cheers, Frasier, and Wings). His US$1.6 million per episode salary for Frasier was the highest in the history of American television at the time, and his 20-year run playing Dr. Frasier Crane ties a length set by James Arness in playing Marshall Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1975.[8]
Voice work
Grammer's smooth, deep voice makes him popular for voiceover work. He has provided the voice of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons, winning an Emmy for his work in the episode "The Italian Bob",[9] He has appeared in eleven episodes in all since the show's inception in 1989. He also supplied the voices for "Stinky Pete the Prospector" in Toy Story 2, Vladimir in the Fox animated movie Anastasia, Zozi the Bear in the subsequently-produced prequel Bartok the Magnificent, and the title character in the short-lived animated series Gary the Rat. He also provided the opening speech and piano in The Vandals song "Phone Machine" from the album Fear of a Punk Planet. Down Periscope is a 1996 comedy movie starring Kelsey Grammer as the captain of a rust-bucket submarine (called the USS Stingray) who is fighting for his career.
Return to television
He returned to series television on Fox's The Sketch Show. He also produces the CW sitcoms Girlfriends and The Game. Prior to that he guest starred as The Angel of Death on Medium, which he also produces. In film, his recent work includes the role of Dr. Hank McCoy (a.k.a. Beast) in X-Men: The Last Stand. Grammer provided the voice for television commercials advertising the Hyundai Sonata and the Hyundai Azera.
Grammer recently starred in two failed sitcoms, Back to You and Hank.
Personal life
Relationships
Grammer has been married three times. His first marriage, to dance instructor Doreen Alderman, lasted from 1982 to 1990 and produced one daughter, Spencer, an actress on the American soap opera As the World Turns and the ABC Family show Greek. His second marriage, to stripper Leigh-Anne Csuhany in 1992, lasted one year. Grammer claims she was abusive and that, after talk of divorce, she attempted suicide, which resulted in the miscarriage of their child.[10] He referred to her in his autobiography, saying:[11]
- “To be sure I'd never leave her, [my wife] Leigh-Anne... had to convince me that I was nothing—unattractive, untalented, undeserving of love, and incapable of being loved by anyone but her. The way she achieved this was to break me down with verbal abuse.
"You fucking pig." "What a wimp." "Dickless." "Fag." "Prick." "Bastard." "You're so fucking stupid." "You're so fucking ugly."
These were the verbal tools, but she had more. She'd spit in my face. Slap me. Punch me. Kick me. Break glasses over my head. Break windows. Tear up pictures of my loved ones. Threaten to kill me, kill herself. Cut my balls off. Chop me up. Put a bullet in my head.”
- ―{{{2}}}
Also in 1992, Grammer had a daughter, Greer, with hair and makeup stylist Barrie Buckner.[6] His engagement to Tammi Alexander broke up due to rape allegations and her leaks to the tabloid press. Since August 1997 Grammer has been married to Camille Donatacci, a former Playboy model. They have a son, Jude Gordon, and a daughter, Mason Olivia, together via a surrogate mother.[6] Grammer and Donatacci have homes in Malibu, Colorado, and New York, and a holiday home in Maui.
Substance abuse
In 1988, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail for drunk driving and cocaine possession, and an additional 10 days of community service with the California Department of Transportation.[12] He was again arrested for cocaine possession in August 1990 and sentenced to three years' probation, fined $500 and given 300 hours' community service.[12] In January 1991 he was given an additional two years' probation for violating his original probation through additional cocaine use.[12] In September 1996, he overturned his Dodge Viper while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and subsequently checked in to the Betty Ford Clinic for 30 days. Grammer said of the incident:
- "I was at a point in my life where I just wasn't focused. Sometimes I was doing drugs, sometimes it was booze. There was no question that I shouldn't have been driving that car at that moment." [6]
Other notable incidents
After publishing his autobiography, So Far... in 1995, he was sued by a former girlfriend Cerlette Lamme for defamation of character and invasion of privacy.[7] In 1998, Grammer filed a lawsuit against Internet Entertainment Group, which Grammer claimed had stolen from his home a videotape of him having sex with former girlfriend Cerlette Lamme. IEG counter-sued Grammer, denying they were in possession of such a tape, and Grammer's suit was eventually dropped. He eventually paid Lamme $1 million for the tape.[13]
Reflections on his life
In 1999, Kelsey Grammer made the following observation on his own life:[11]
- “'You see, it's the nature of people like me - alcoholics, obsessive-compulsive, whatever - to dismiss their own achievements and to belittle themselves. It's something I have been tortured by all my life. It has taken forty-three years to become comfortable with myself and with having a sense of accomplishment. Being able to accept the remarkable nature of my life is new to me.'”
- ―{{{2}}}
Political activism
On September 21, 2003, during an appearance on Hannity & Colmes on Fox News, Grammer expressed an interest in running for United States Congress as a Republican.[14] He indicated that it was something he would consider when his children were older. During an interview on the The Today Show, he told Matt Lauer that he wouldn't enter politics until he felt he was more knowledgeable on the subject.
He was a celebrity guest at President George W. Bush's first inauguration. He also has endorsed Rudy Giuliani for president in 2008.
Quote
- "I think it's your duty to overcome what you inherit in life. It's the David Copperfield line: 'Am I going to be master of my fate, or its victim?' I'm not gonna be its victim, though I've felt victimized — a lot." [15]
Selected film and television work
- Cheers (1984–1993) (TV series), as Frasier Crane
- The Simpsons (1990–present) (TV series), as Sideshow Bob
- Frasier (1993–2004) (TV series), as Frasier Crane
- Down Periscope (1996), as Commander Dodge
- Animal Farm (1999), as Snowball (voice)
- Toy Story 2 (1999), as Stinky Pete, the Old Prospector
- Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003) (TV), as George Washington
- The Big Empty (2003), as Agent Banks
- Gary the Rat (2003) (TV series), as Gary 'The Rat' Andrews (voice)
- Teacher's Pet (2004), as Dr. Ivan Krank (voice)
- A Christmas Carol (2004) (TV), as Ebenezer Scrooge
- Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show (2005), as various characters
- The Good Humor Man (2005), as Mr. Skibness
- Even Money (2006), as Detective Brunner
- Medium (2006), as Angel of Death
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Dr. Hank McCoy / The Beast
- Significant Others (2006), as Francis
- Back to You (2007–present), as Chuck Darling
- The Simpsons Movie (2007), as Sideshow Bob (voice) However, this part was cut from the final product.
Simpsons Appearances
- HD Opening Sequence — {{{1}}}
- Episode – "The Telltale Head" first non-speaking appearance: When Lisa and Maggie meet Sideshow Bob. He has a red Afro instead of spiked hair. Also seen in the mob chasing Homer and Bart.
- Episode – "Krusty Gets Busted" Sideshow Bob frames Krusty for armed robbery.
- Episode – "Bart Gets an "F"" second non-speaking appearance: He is seen in the crowd frolicking in the snow.
- Episode – "Bart the Murderer" third non-speaking appearance: He can be seen training in the same prison cell as Bart when he is imprisoned.
- Episode – "Black Widower" Sideshow Bob is paroled and marries then tries to murder Selma.
- Episode – "Lisa's First Word" He appears in this episode but he has blue hair.
- Episode – "Cape Feare" He is paroled again and tries to murder Bart.
- Episode – "Another Simpsons Clip Show" A clip from the episode Black Widower is shown with him in it.
- Episode – "Sideshow Bob Roberts" Sideshow Bob is revealed to be a political prisoner, and when released he runs for mayor.
- THOH – "Treehouse of Horror V" Picture only.
- Episode – "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming" Bob gets out of prison and tries to abolish TV from Springfield for ever. He also attempts to murder Krusty using the Wright Brothers Plane.
- Episode – "Bart the Fink" He is mentioned by Sideshow Mel in Krusty's funeral.
- Episode – "The Day the Violence Died" He cannot be seen but is mentioned.
- Episode – "Brother from Another Series" Sideshow Bob is once again released from jail and works for his brother Cecil to build the Springfield Hydroelectric Dam, which later collapses and floods the town. Although Sideshow Bob didn't do anything, he (and his brother Cecil) went to jail again.
- Episode – "Pokey Mom" He can be seen with a cast on his head and is mentioned.
- Episode – "Day of the Jackanapes" Bob, after learning that all the tapes of his role in Krusty's show have been erased, decides to brainwash Bart into becoming Krusty's assailant, but after learning that Krusty saved some footage of Sideshow Bob, and that he made an open apology about his treatment of him, he backs down at the last minute.
- Episode – "Worst Episode Ever" Appears as a picture on the list of people banned from Comic Book Guy's shop.
- Episode – "Large Marge" He appears in the promotional image where she implied to have flashed her breasts at everyone, giving several reactions.
- Episode – "The Great Louse Detective" Bob is released from prison and is hired by Chief Wiggum to protect Homer Simpson from a serial killer, though he also desires to kill Bart as well.
- Episode – "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington" Sideshow Bob is seen with Krusty in a picture during Krusty's campaigning advert.
- Episode – "Mobile Homer" Fourth non-speaking appearance: Homer turns out to be Sideshow Bob in disguise in the couch gag and tries to stab Bart.
- Episode – "The Italian Bob" The Simpsons go to Italy and meet Bob, his wife and their son.
- Episode – "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer" He appears in the episodes promotional image, which is deliberately drawn to resemble one of the promotional pictures for The Sopranos
- Episode – "You Kent Always Say What You Want" Picture only.
- Episode – "Funeral for a Fiend" Bob fakes his own death, making it look like Bart killed him.
- Episode – "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind" (Cameo) as a Gravestone
- Episode – "Sex, Pies, and Idiot Scrapes" Fifth non-speaking appearance: he can be seen escaping from prison, hinting that he will return later in the season. His picture is also seen as one of the many bail jumpers.
- Episode – "Wedding for Disaster" Bob has a brief speaking appearance.
- Episode – "Coming to Homerica" Sixth non-speaking appearance: In the couch gag he is seen entering into a bar (parody of Cheers) where the Simpsons are, then the Simpsons run in fear.
- Episode – "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?" Seventh non-speaking appearance: Can be seen with Cecil during Bart's dream about brothers.
- Episode – "American History X-cellent" Eighth non-speaking appearance: Getting bullied by Snake Jailbird by being put in the washer and the dryer at the prison.
- Episode – "Chief of Hearts" Ninth non-speaking appearance: Can be seen in a photograph in the credits, bullying Chief Wiggum and Homer
- Episode – "The Bob Next Door" He switches places with Walt Warren using plastic surgery and becomes a neighbor of the Simpsons.
- Episode – "Moonshine River" Tenth non-speaking appearance: Tries to kill Bart with a knife, but gets hit by a train.
- The Simpsons Game Level – "Mob Rules"
Video game – The Simpsons: Minutes to Meltdown
- Comic book – Cool Hand Bart
- Comic book – Be-Bop-a-Lisa
- Comic book – Fallen Flanders
- Comic book – Get Off the Bus!
- Comic book – Sideshow Simpsons
- Comic book – Bart Simpson & The Krusty Brand Fun Factory
- Comic book – Angels with Yellow Faces
- Comic book – Simpson/Sideshow Sibling Smackdown
- Comic book – The Many Faces of Bob
- Comic book – Big House Homer
- Comic book – Ring-a-Ding Springfield
- Comic book – Bobbing for Vengeance
External links
Citations
- ↑ "Grammer's Lesson" from Smoke magazine
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "A suitable case for treatment" from Ginny Dougary's blog
- ↑ Murder to Kelsey Grammar's sister
- ↑ "Kelsey Grammer Vows to Speak for Sister if Killer Pursues Parole" from FOXNews
- ↑ http://www.tvland.com/shows/cheers/actors/act7.jhtml
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Profile — Kelsey Grammar
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Yahoo Movies: Kelsey Grammer
- ↑ TV Guide: Kelsey Grammar
- ↑ Grammer wins Emmy for Simpsons a July 2006 Reuters article via CNN
- ↑ "A suitable case for treatment" from Ginny Dougary's blog
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kelsey Grammar profile from Cosmic Baseball Association
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 http://www.dui.com/drunk_driving_research/grammer_dui.html
- ↑ Kelsey Grammar from NNDB
- ↑ Transcript: Twenty Years of 'Frasier' from Fox News
- ↑ Kelsey Grammer Biography from tribute.ca
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Starring | |||
Dan Castellaneta | Julie Kavner | Nancy Cartwright | Yeardley Smith | Hank Azaria | Harry Shearer | |||
Also Starring | |||
Pamela Hayden | Tress MacNeille | Maggie Roswell | Russi Taylor | Karl Wiedergott | Christopher Collins | Doris Grau | Jo Ann Harris | Marcia Mitzman Gaven | |||
Special Guest Voices | |||
Kelsey Grammer | Maurice LaMarche | Joe Mantegna | Marcia Wallace | Greg Berg | Albert Brooks | Phil Hartman | Jan Hooks | Jane Kaczmarek | Jon Lovitz | Frank Welker |