Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane on Frasier.

Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 20, 1955 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands) is an American actor, director, and writer best known for his twenty year portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on two different sitcoms, Cheers and Frasier.

Personal life and professional career

Grammer, who came to public attention in the classic TV sitcom Cheers, was able to successfully spin off his character Dr. Frasier Crane into a television series in its own right, named Frasier. Grammer has won a number of Emmys and Golden Globes for his work in Frasier. Grammer was the first American actor to ever be nominated for multiple Emmy awards for portraying the same character on three different television shows (Cheers, Fraiser, 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 record set by James Arness who played Marshall Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1975.

Grammer has been married three times. His first marriage to dance instructor, Doreen Alderman spanned eight years, from 1982 to 1990 and produced one child, a daughter named Spencer. His second marriage to stripper Leigh-Anne Csuhany lasted but one year (1992 - 1993). Since August of 1997, Grammer has been married to Camille Donatacci , a former MTV dancer. They have a son and a daughter together via a surrogate mother. Grammer has one additional daughter, Greer, with hair and makeup stylist Barrie Buckner in 1992.

Grammer's life has been marked by tragedy and, as a result, occasional depression and substance abuse. In 1968, his father was murdered in the Virgin Islands; in 1975, his sister was raped and murdered after leaving a Red Lobster restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and in 1980, his twin half-brothers were killed in a shark attack. Bravely putting his personal tragedies behind him, Grammer currently seems to be optimistic and happy with his third wife and child.

Grammer's trademark smooth, deep voice makes him popular for voiceover work. He provides the voice of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons, produces the UPN sitcom, Girlfriends, and worked as the voice of "Stinky Pete the Prospector" in Toy Story 2. Grammer sang the title theme for the Frasier TV Series.

His most recent work is on the Fox's The Sketch Show. While he does appear in some sketches, his role is similar to a host, not a comic.

Politics

In September of 2003, Grammer expressed an interest in running for the U.S. Senate from California during an appearance on Hannity & Colmes. While remaining vague about his particular political beliefs, he said he would likely run as a Republican, though he says he's not conservative. "I consider myself a centrist, I suppose, but I basically believe in trying to preserve as much opportunity for the individual, as long as that individual chooses to work as hard as he can."

Grammer has appeared on Sean Hannity's syndicated conservative radio program. He was offered a job as a guest. He did not turn it down.

Quotes

• "I would like to try to rid the country of the idea that it's the rich against the poor."
• "Life is supposed to get tough."
• "I dreampt that Frasier was over and was on this Sketch Show."

External links

• Grammer's official site