David Alan Grier

Early life and education

Grier was born in Detroit, Michigan, one of three children, to Aretas Ruth (née Blaney), a school teacher, and William Henry Grier, a psychiatrist and writer, who co-wrote the 1968 book Black Rage.

He graduated from Detroit's Cass Technical High School, received a B.A. in radio, television and film from the University of Michigan in 1978, and an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama, in 1981. Visiting lecturer Rachel Roberts took notice of his performance one evening in a piece entitled The Place of the Spirit Dance.

Career

1981–1989: Broadway debut and early roles

After graduating from Yale, Grier landed the role of Jackie Robinson in the short-lived Broadway musical The First, directed by Martin Charnin and written by Joel Siegel. Grier was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and won the Theatre World Award for The First. He got his start on the National Public Radio radio drama adaptation of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1981. He was the voice of a nameless X-wing fighter pilot during the Battle of Yavin.

Grier later starred as James "Thunder" Early in the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Grier made his film debut in 1983 in Streamers, directed by Robert Altman. He won the Golden Lion for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for the film. He appeared in the Negro Ensemble Company production A Soldier's Play and reprised his role in the film version A Soldier's Story. Grier appeared as a geology professor at Hillman College in the show A Different World.

1990–1999: Career breakthrough

Although primarily known for his dramatic work, Grier began to shift towards comedy, making appearances in the cult films Amazon Women on the Moon and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, whose director Keenen Ivory Wayans cast Grier in his new variety show In Living Color. It became a ratings hit and won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series. Grier became a popular cast member through his characters, which ranged from hyperactive children to crotchety old men. Some of his more well-known characters were flamboyant and effeminate Antoine Merriweather in the "Men on..." sketch series, blues musician Calhoun Tubbs (based on Shakey Jake, a busker who often performed near the Michigan campus) megaphone-blaring shop teacher Al MacAfee, the elderly Mr. Brooks, and Tiny, a prison inmate obsessed with female "breastesses". He also provided impersonations of Joe Jackson and Ike Turner.

After his success on In Living Color, Grier began appearing in film comedies such as Boomerang, as Eddie Murphy's shy friend Gerard in 1992; Blankman, with Damon Wayans, in 1994; In the Army Now, as Fred Ostroff with Pauly Shore and Andy Dick, also in 1994; and as Carl Bentley, a factory employee turned police officer whose car is crushed and eaten by a giant pod in Jumanji in 1995. He played Rev. Leon Lonnie Love on the TV series Martin. Grier appeared with Tom Arnold in the 1997 comedy McHale's Navy as Ensign Charles Parker. Grier returned to Broadway to perform in the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in 1997.

In 1998 Grier hosted the game show Random Acts of Comedy on Fox Family, what is now Freeform. The show lasted one season. That same year he co-starred with Jon Stewart in Elmopalooza, as the director of Stewart's production crew, who he often chastises at Elmo and Telly after realizing what happened to the rest of the cast. In 1999, he made a guest appearance as himself in the "Aw, Here it Goes to Hollywood" episode of Nickelodeon's sitcom Kenan & Kel. After the cancellation of In Living Color, Grier starred in the short-lived sitcoms The Preston Episodes.

2000–2019: Continued work

Grier is a comedian and hosted the Comedy Central series Premium Blend in 2001. He made an appearance on the Dave, Shelley, and Chainsaw (DSC) Show (San Diego Jack 100.7 FM) on October 5, 2012, before doing performances at The Madhouse Comedy Club. In the interview, he debunked internet reports that he was involved in a musical based on the life of Louis Farrakhan. He took a leading role in DAG and had a cameo in the Robert De Niro and Edward Burns film 15 Minutes (2001) as a Central Park mugger. In a departure from the comedic roles he played on In Living Color, he portrayed an abusive father in Rusty Cundieff's anthology film Tales from the Hood. In 2002, Grier joined the cast of the improv-based ABC sitcom and Bonnie Hunt vehicle Life with Bonnie which ran for two seasons. During this time, he continued to appear in comedy films but also returned to drama in the films Baadasssss! (2003) and The Woodsman (2004). He starred in his own Comedy Central stand-up special The Book of David: The Cult Figure's Manifesto. He is also a frequent guest on the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers.

Grier was the host of the NBC show Thank God You're Here. He starred in Gym Teacher: The Movie (2008) playing the villain, Shelly Bragg. He appeared as Uncle Henry in the ABC 2005 television film The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. Grier guest starred in Season 6 of Fox's Bones. He played Professor Bunsen Jude, the Science Dude, the host of a children's television program. This character was inspired by Bill Nye "the Science Guy". In May 2013, Grier appeared in Tyler Perry Presents Peeples, playing the role of Virgil Peeples, alongside Kerry Washington and Craig Robinson. Also in 2013, Grier appeared in The Watsons Go To Birmingham, a Hallmark Channel adaptation of Christopher Paul Curtis' 1995 Newbery Honor-winning novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963. He appeared on the CBS TV-adaptation of Bad Teacher, playing the role of principal Carl Gaines.

In 2008, Grier starred in the Comedy Central series Chocolate News which had satirical sketches about current events and news stories. It lasted for one season of ten episodes. Grier appeared as Jimmy Dale in the series Queen Sugar appearing in Season 3 and played the role of Mr. Packard in the Paramount Pictures film Clifford the Big Red Dog. He returned to Broadway for the premiere of Race, written and directed by David Mamet, opposite James Spader, Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas, which opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on December 6, 2009. Grier received his second Tony nomination for the role. He also appeared in the revival production of The Wiz at the La Jolla Playhouse directed by Des McAnuff. He was a contestant on the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Kym Johnson. By the fourth week of the competition, Grier announced that he had lost 26 pounds. He was eliminated in the fifth week. His first book Barack Like Me: The Chocolate-Covered Truth was published by Simon & Schuster in 2009. The book recounts Grier's own life story, and was written with Alan Eisenstock. Grier appeared on Broadway as Sportin' Life in the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, which opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on January 12, 2012, alongside Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for this role. In addition to his Tony Award nomination, Grier received a 2013 Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album for his performance on the cast recording of the play. He played the Cowardly Lion in NBC's live performance of The Wiz, which aired on December 3, 2015.

He appeared in an episode of Clean House along with his brother and his brother's family. Grier invited the show to help his brother due to his severe problems with clutter, and the family received a home makeover. He hosted the game show Snap Decision, which debuted August 7, 2017, on the Game Show Network and many Sinclair TV stations.

2020–present

In January 2020, Grier returned to the stage for the Broadway production of A Soldier's Play, this time playing Tech Sergeant Vernon C. Waters, the role originated by Adolph Caesar in the off-Broadway production. For this role, he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

In April 2022, it was announced that Grier would join the cast of the 2023 musical remake, The Color Purple. He plays Pastor Avery, the father of Shug Avery, a role also in the 1985 film of the same name. In 2022, he starred in The Patient on Hulu with Steve Carell. He was the announcer for the 96th Academy Awards, held on March 10, 2024. That same year he starred in the satirical film The American Society of Magical Negroes, which received negative reviews. Of the film Grier said, "Some members of the white community will see it and say, ‘We’re tired of hearing about race.’ Well we're tired of talking about it. We're tired! We're tied, too. We all want to get past this, but you can only get past it by going through it."

Personal life

Grier was married to Maritza Rivera and divorced in 1997. In July 2007, he married Christine Y. Kim, an associate curator of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She gave birth to their daughter, Luisa Danbi Grier-Kim on January 10, 2008, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in Los Angeles. On July 9, 2009, Kim filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

When Grier was young, his family marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in a March on Poverty in Detroit, where King gave an early version of the "I Have A Dream" speech.

He is a fan of motorcycles, and owns the rare Yamaha YZF-R1 Limited Edition. On the August 10, 2009, episode of The Adam Carolla Show, Grier agreed to auction it to aid Bryan Bishop's Tumor Fund, but subsequently walked out of the studio. He is an avid cook and began food blogging during the run of the play Race, where James Spader helped to critique the food Grier made.

Acting credits

Film

Television

Video games

Radio

Theater

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (April 18, 2004). "Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time". Everything2.com.
2. (2024-08-28). "Meet the Cast of NBC's New Comedy Series St. Denis Medical".
3. "David Alan Grier".
4. Grimes, William. (2015-09-12). "William H. Grier, Psychiatrist Who Delved Into 'Black Rage' in 1960s, Dies at 89". The New York Times.
5. (April 26, 2010). "2005-04-17 (David Alan Grier)".
6. Roberts, Rachel. (1984). "No bells on Sunday : the Rachel Roberts journals". Harper & Row.
7. Manning, Corey. (August 18, 2009). "Stand-up guy David Alan Grier talks acting, comedy – The Bay State Banner".
8. (2025-04-18). "David Alan Grier On Stage".
9. "David Alan Grier".
10. "A Soldier's Play Original Broadway Play Cast 2020 {{!}} Broadway World".
11. Team BWW. "David Alan Grier (Actor): Credits, Bio, News & More {{!}} Broadway World".
12. "In Living Color {{!}} History, Culture, Comedy, & Impact {{!}} Britannica".
13. Cook, Gina. (2024-08-22). "11 Actors Who Became Famous After Appearing On 'In Living Color'".
14. Lefkowitz, David. (July 15, 1997). "David Alan Grier Returns To B'way in Forum".
15. "Random Acts of Comedy". New Star Media Inc..
16. Scott, Tony. (1998-02-19). "Elmopalooza!".
17. (1995-09-09). "The Preston Episodes". 20th Century Fox Television, Dahoco Productions, Jobsite Productions.
18. (1997-11-29). "Premium Blend". Comedy Central, Rickmill Productions.
19. Katsilometes, John. (July 1, 2010). "Albino gorillas? Farrakhan: The Musical? With Grier, anything is possible". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
20. (2000-11-14). "DAG". Gordon & Conn Productions, Double Wide Productions, NBC Studios.
21. Herzfeld, John. (2001-03-09). "15 Minutes". New Line Cinema, Industry Entertainment, New Redemption Pictures.
22. Cundieff, Rusty. (1995-05-24). "Tales from the Hood". 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Savoy Pictures.
23. (2002-09-17). "Life with Bonnie". Touchstone Television, Bob & Alice Productions, Nina Saxon Film Design.
24. (August 18, 2010). "Bones Exclusive: David Alan Grier to Woo Brennan?". TV Guide.
25. Goldberg, Lesley. (February 16, 2013). "David Alan Grier to Play Principal in CBS' 'Bad Teacher'". The Hollywood Reporter.
26. (February 17, 2020). "Most Anticipated Movies of 2020 List, Watch Trailers".
27. "2010 Tony Nominations Announced; Fela! and La Cage Top List".
28. Hernandez, Ernio. (October 11, 2006). "David Alan Grier is The Wiz in New La Jolla Playhouse Staging, Opening Oct. 11".
29. "'Dancing With The Stars' Season 8 Cast Revealed!".
30. (April 1, 2009). "Grier, Wozniak reveal 'Dancing' weight loss".
31. "Barack Like Me: The Chocolate-Covered Truth".
32. "The best things to eat, drink and do in Chicago – RedEye Chicago".
33. "David Alan Grier". Broadway.com.
34. "59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com.
35. Blake, Emily. (August 4, 2015). "NBC's 'The Wiz Live!' finds its Cowardly Lion".
36. Andreeva, Nellie. (June 28, 2017). "'Snap Decision' Game Show Hosted By David Alan Grier To Air On GSN & In Broadcast Syndication At the Same Time".
37. (January 21, 2020). "'A Soldier's Play': Theater Review".
38. Balk, Tim. (September 26, 2021). "David Alan Grier wins his first Tony Award, kicking off ceremony". New York Daily News.
39. (June 1, 2022). "Jon Batiste to Make Feature Acting Debut in Blitz Bazawule's ''The Color Purple''".
40. "Meet the Cast of The Patient on FX".
41. (March 10, 2024). "The 'Voice of God' on tonight's Oscars is none other than national treasure David Alan Grier". EW.com.
42. "The American Society of Magical Negroes".
43. Sharf, Zack. (January 20, 2024). "David Alan Grier: White People Might Watch 'American Society' and Say They're 'Tired of Hearing About Race,' but 'We're Tired of Talking About It'".
44. (January 11, 2008). "Comedian David Alan Grier Welcomes a Girl".
45. (July 9, 2009). "David Alan Grier – In Living ... Single".
46. (May 19, 2014). "David Alan Grier".
47. (February 19, 2005). "July 30 Seattle 100 Charity Event To Include Racing Stars, Celebrities".
48. (September 1, 2005). "2005 Seattle 100 Charity Ride". Motorcycle USA.
49. Gay, Nancy. (July 23, 2007). "MOTOGP AT LAGUNA SECA NOTEBOOK / Sponsor re-energizes series at racetrack". San Francisco Chronicle.
50. Diamond, Jamie. (August 13, 2006). "A NIGHT OUT WITH – Adam Carolla; Is a Scallop an Animal?". The New York Times.
51. Adam Carolla Podcast, May 29, 2009