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Background:
American actor, director and producer Kelsey Grammer is best known to TV viewers
for playing psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in the high-profile sitcom “Frasier”
(1993-2004). For his hilarious performance, Grammer received plenty of
recognition and won four Emmy Awards as well as two Golden Globe Awards. The
character of Dr. Frasier Crane was also featured in the TV series “Cheers”
(1982-1993, earned two Emmy nominations) and “Wings” (1992, brought him another
Emmy nomination). On the big screen, Grammer is known for playing roles in such
films as the thriller 15 Minutes (2001) and the comedy The Big Empty (2003).
Recently appearing in Even Money (2006), he will soon be seen as Dr. Hank
McCoy/Beast in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and as Francis in Brian Skeet’s
drama Significant Others (2006).
Grammer’s off-screen life is as sensational as his on-screen career. His
addiction to alcohol and drugs triggered several arrests and sentences. He
finally entered the Betty Ford Clinic in 1996 for 30 days of rehab. He also had
several upsetting experiences in legal courts. In 1995, he was sued by ex-wife
Leigh-Anne Csuhany for defamation of character and invasion of privacy, and
three years later, he sued Internet Entertainment Group for stealing his private
belongings and was then countersued by IEG. On a more positive note, he and wife
Camille became the spokespeople for irritable bowel syndrome sufferers.
As for his romantic life, Grammer is known to have had several unsteady
relationships. His engagement with model Tammi Alexander was cancelled after he
had an affair with a babysitter. His next relationship, with ice-skater Cerlette
Lamme, was destroyed by his affair with makeup artist Barrie Buckner, with whom
he has a daughter. After the scandals, he married Doreen Alderman (separated in
1990), Leigh-Anne Csuhany (divorced in 1993, has a daughter with her) and is now
the husband of Camille Donatacci. With third wife Camille, Grammer has a
daughter named Mason Olivia Grammer.
Tragic Upbringing
Childhood and Family:
The son of Allen Grammer (bar owner) and Sally Grammer, Kelsey Grammer was born
as Allen Kelsey Grammer on February 21, 1955, in the Virgin Islands. Due to his
parents’ separation, young Kelsey had to live with his mother and grandparents
in New Jersey.
As a child, Kelsey had a complex life. He attended numerous elementary schools
and moved from one school to another. His grandfather died and his father, whom
he saw only twice, was murdered. He then decided to take the drama program at
The Juilliard School in New York. However, he stopped going to class and was
eventually kicked out of the school. His sad experiences were also marked with
the rape and murder of his only sister, Karen Grammer. After moving to Florida,
where he attended Pine Crest Preparatory High School, Kelsey had to deal with
unhappiness again as his two half-brothers, Stephen and Billy Grammer, were
killed by a shark attack while scuba diving. To overcome his sadness, Kelsey
participated in a number of productions.
As for his married life, Kelsey has been married three times. In 1982, he was
married to dance instructor Doreen Alderman, but they divorced eight years
later. Kelsey and Doreen share a daughter named Spencer Grammer (born in 1984).
From 1992 to 1993, he was briefly married to stripper Leigh-Anne Csuhany. Kelsey
is now married to former nude model Camille Donatacci, whom he wed in August
1997. They have a daughter, Mason Olivia Grammer (born on October 24, 2001), who
was delivered by a surrogate mother. He also has a daughter, Greer Kandace
Grammer (born on February 15, 1992), from his relationship with lover Barrie
Buckner.
Cheers
Career:
Kelsey Grammer began acting in high school when he appeared in a school play of
“The Little Foxes.” After being kicked out of Juilliard, Grammer joined the Old
Globe Theater in San Diego and performed with them for three years. After
leaving the group, he appeared in many theaters across the country, including
the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was also discovered in several
off-Broadway plays like “Plenty,” “Sunday in the Park with George” and the Obie-winning
“Quartermaine’s Terms.” After getting his feet wet with numerous plays, Grammer
finally made his Broadway debut in 1981 in a production of “Macbeth” and
followed that up with the feature role of Cassio in the Broadway revival of
“Othello” (1982). The same year, Grammer made his small screen debut by
reprising his stage role for the TV movie version of Macbeth (1982) before
taking minor parts in such series as “Kennedy” (1983) and “Kate & Allie” (1984).
In 1984, Grammer got his first taste of fame when he won the role of Dr. Frasier
Crane, a psychiatrist and regular customer of the Cheers bar, in the
already-airing sitcom “Cheers” (1982-1993), for creator James Burrows, Glen
Charles and Les Charles. Due to his fine comic turn, the actor earned two Emmy
nominations for Best Supporting Actor. The character of Dr. Crane was so famous
that he later reprised the role in an episode of the TV series “Wings” (1992),
in which he earned another Emmy nomination for Best Actor. While working with
the series, Grammer also appeared in numerous TV series and TV films like
“Another World” (1984-1985), “Crossings” (1986), “J.J. Starbuck” (1987), Dance
‘Til Dawn (1988), Top of the Hill (1989), “The Tracey Ullman Show” (1990), and
“Baby Talk” (1991). He also made a big screen debut with the supporting role of
Peter in John Ryman’s comedy Galaxies are Colliding (1992).
Following the success of “Cheers,” Grammer revived his Dr. Frasier Crane
character in the big hit “Frasier” (1993-2004), where he starred alongside Jane
Leeves and David Hyde Pierce. Grammer’s continuous wit nabbed countless awards,
including four Emmys and two Golden Globes for Best Actor. He also received 6
Emmy, 7 Golden Globe and 8 Screen Actors Guild nominations. The actor also
executive produced and directed a number of the “Frasier” episodes.
While working on the show, the actor/comedian voiced the recurring Sideshow Bob
in the popular cartoon show “The Simpsons” (1990-2005), executive produced the
TV film “The Innocent” (1994, also starred as Detective Frank Barlow), appeared
in an episode of “The John Larroquette Show” (1995), produced the TV series
“Fired Up” (1997), took the starring part of Maj. Gen. Partridge in the comedy
The Pentagon Wars (1998), lent his voice for Stinky Pete the Prospector in John
Lasseter’s Toy Story 2 (1999) and executive produced the sitcom “Girlfriends”
(2000). Grammer also returned to stage, opposite Diane Venora, in the 2000
Broadway production of “Macbeth.”
Following his leading role with Robert De Niro and Edward Burns in John
Herzfeld’s thriller 15 Minutes (2001), Grammer became the creator, producer and
director of the TV movie Neurotic Tendencies (2001). It was followed by roles in
Mr. St. Nick (2002, TV) and the comedy The Big Empty (2003). After the series
ended, Grammer had a special clip show commemorating the Frasier series called
Frasier: Analyzing the Laughter (2004). A year later, he took the supporting
role of Mr. Skibness in his executive-produced The Good Humor Man (2005, TV) and
directed a pilot for the TV series “Out of Practice” (2005).
Recently, Grammer was seen as Detective Brunner in Mark Rydell’s drama Even
Money (2006), alongside Kim Basinger and Danny DeVito, and will soon play roles
in the forthcoming Brett Ratner-directed X-Men: The Last Stand (2006, as Dr.
Hank McCoy/Beast) and Brian Skeet’s drama Significant Others (2006, plays
Francis). On the small screen, Grammer will produce the series “The Game” (2006)
and direct the made-for-TV film My Ex Life (2006).
Awards:
- Emmy: Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Frasier, 2004
- Golden Satellite: Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Comedy or
Musical, Frasier, 2002
- People’s Choice: Favorite Male Television Performer, 2002
- Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series -
Comedy/Musical, Frasier, 2001
- Banff Television Festival: Sir Peter Ustinov Award, 2001
- Screen Actors Guild: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy
Series, Frasier, 2000
- Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Frasier, 1998
- Golden Satellite: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series -
Comedy or Musical, Frasier, 1998
- Viewers for Quality Television: Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series,
Frasier, 1998
- Viewers for Quality Television: Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series,
Frasier, 1997
- American Comedy: Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role)
Network, Cable or Syndication, Frasier, 1996
- Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series -
Comedy/Musical, Frasier, 1996
- Viewers for Quality Television: Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series,
Frasier, 1996
- Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Frasier, 1995
- Viewers for Quality Television: Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series,
Frasier, 1995
- American Comedy: Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role)
Network, Cable or Syndication, Frasier, 1994
- Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Frasier, 1994
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