Description:
David Hyde Pierce was born on 3 April 1959 in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. He is the youngest child of George and Laura Pierce (both deceased) and has two older sisters (Barbara and Nancy) and an older brother (Thomas). As a child, he was very interested in music (particularly piano) and regularly played the organ at his local church (Bethesda Episcopal Church). David discovered a love of drama in high school and, upon his graduation in 1977, he received the Yaddo Medal which is to honor academic achievement and personal character. However, his love of music was still strong so he decided to study classical piano at Yale Uni
David Hyde Pierce was born on 3 April 1959 in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. He is the youngest child of George and Laura Pierce (both deceased) and has two older sisters (Barbara and Nancy) and an older brother (Thomas). As a child, he was very interested in music (particularly piano) and regularly played the organ at his local church (Bethesda Episcopal Church). David discovered a love of drama in high school and, upon his graduation in 1977, he received the Yaddo Medal which is to honor academic achievement and personal character. However, his love of music was still strong so he decided to study classical piano at Yale University. Unfortunately, he soon grew bored with music history lessons and found that he wasn't dedicated enough to practice the required amount of hours to become a successful concert pianist. Instead, he returned to his love of drama and graduated in 1981 with a double major in English and Theatre Arts. He then moved to New York where he worked several menial jobs (including selling ties at Bloomingdales and working as a security guard) while acting in the theater during the late 80s and early 90s. He appeared in small roles in films such as Noches de neón (1988) before his life and career changed forever when he landed the role of "Dr. Niles Crane" in the television series Frasier (1993). Throughout the show's eleven year run (1993-2004), David was nominated for an Emmy award for Best Supporting Actor each year (he won four times: 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2004). David resides in Los Angeles with his romantic partner, 'Brian Hargrove', and their two Wheaton Terriers, Maude and Mabel. He remains very close to his three siblings.
Cleft chin.
Distinctive, mellow voice.
Deadpan comic delivery.
Received the Yaddo Medal as best dramatic arts student upon graduation from Saratoga Springs High School, 1977.
Plays both the piano and the organ.
Attended Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs.
He received his initial interview with the creators of Frasier (1993) due to his close resemblance to Kelsey Grammer. After the interview, the part of Niles Crane was written for him.
Once worked as a security guard.
Is active in the fight to find a cure for Alzheimer's, which his grandfather suffered and died from. His father also suffered from the disease but died from pneumonia.
Holds the record for being nominated for most Best Supporting Actor Emmys for a character, "Dr. Niles Crane" on Frasier (1993). He was nominated 11 times.
Graduated from Yale University with a double major in English and theater arts.
Attended Yale with Jodie Foster. When she was preparing to direct El pequeño Tate (1991), she remembered him from a play he was in at that time and called and offered him a part.
Once sold ties at Bloomingdales in New York.
He kickboxes.
Made his debut with the New York Philaharmonic in April 2003 in the role of "Benedict", in the concert staging of Berlioz's opera "Beatrice and Benedict". Harriet Sansom Harris, (agent "Bebe Glazer" on Frasier (1993)) played "Beatrice" opposite Pierce.
Asked not to be credited as the voice of "Abe Sapien" in Hellboy (2004) because he felt the characterization of Abe truly belonged to Doug Jones (the actor who played Abe on the set).
One year when he was performing at the international comedy festival "Just for Laughs", he arrived in Montreal for check-in with the festival exhausted and disheveled. He remarked to one of the festival workers how he was looking forward to resting in his hotel room. The worker replied with empathy, saying how tired they were working overtime with few breaks trying to tie up the loose ends and help the performers before the comedy routines. Moments later, Pierce returned with fresh coffee and pastries for all those working at the Festival's check-in.
Has played Kelsey Grammer's brother twice: on Frasier (1993) and on Los Simpson (1989) episode: "Brother From Another Series". John Mahoney also played the father of both pairs of characters.
Pierce resides in Los Angeles with his longtime partner TV writer/director/producer Brian Hargrove.
Won a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for "Curtains" in 2007.
He was nominated for a 1984 Joseph Jefferson award for Director of a Revue for "Candida" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
He was nominated for a 1984 Joseph Jefferson award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Candida" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
Companion of Brian Hargrove since the early '80s. David said in his Tony award acceptance speech in 2007 that he has been with Brian for 24 years. They moved together to Los Angeles (where they still live) in the early '90s.
He named his five favorite films as El padrino (1972), Bonnie y Clyde (1967), Drácula (1958), Neokonchennaya pyesa dlya mekhanicheskogo pianino (1977) and La comedia sexual de una noche de verano (1982).
Plays Lt. Frank Cioffi in the broadway musical comedy "Curtains" - won 2007 Tony award for Best Actor in a Musical. [September 2006]
Has been selected to play "brave Sir Robin" in the broadway production of "Spamalot," the musical version of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," scheduled to open on broadway in February, 2005. [July 2004]
I can vividly recall telling a joke in, like, second grade and realizing it was funnier if I didn't laugh. I've been deadpan ever since.
My life is an open book, but don't expect me to read it to you.
[Speaking on "The View" on May 28, 2009, about his activism for same-sex marriage] I've been going [to marriage-equality rallies] because I had the experience of...having this private thing [marriage] suddenly dragged out into the public and having people I don't know take a vote--I mean, can you imagine? If you're married, the people in your state getting together and saying, "well, you know what, you're not." It's a very odd thing. And I understand all the religious and emotional issues that are involved, but I don't...it was a very angry-making feeling, both in November when it was taken away from me and this past Tuesday, sitting in front of my television wondering, "gee, I hope the Supreme Court thinks it's okay for us to be married." Excuse me--it's none of your business.
... (more)
(less)
Tags: Actor (12), American (8), Frasier (6), Voice Actor (5), Comedian (4), Gay (3), Broadway (3), Lgbt (3), The Simpsons Guest (3), Tv Star (2), Lovely Smile (2), Spamalot (2), Niles Crane (2), Abe Sapien (2), Born 1959 (2), Handsome (2), Cleft Chin (2), Male (2), Wet Hot American Summer (1), Mandibular Prognathism (1)
My tags:
Add tags
Login
United States
72 comments
My Favorite Performances of 2010 (Male) (25 person items)
A Bug's Life Dream Cast
My Favorite Performances - 2010
