David Alan Grier Biography
Summary
"David Alan Grier" (born June 30, 1955) is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show "In Living Color". He is going to host a new Comedy Central show called "Chocolate News" in October 2008.
Biography
Early life
Grier was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Aretas Ruth (née Dudley) and William Henry Grier, a writer who co-authored the book "Black Rage". He graduated from Detroit's premier high school, Cass Tech and received a BA from the University of Michigan, and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. Immediately after graduating, he landed the role of Jackie Robinson in the short-lived Broadway musical "The First", directed by Martin Charnin and written by Joel Siegel.
Career
Grier got his start on the National Public Radio radio drama adaptation of Star Wars in 1980. He was the voice of a nameless X-Wing fighter pilot during the Battle of Yavin.
Grier was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and won the Theatre World Award for "The First". He 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 also appeared in the Negro Ensemble Company production "A Soldier's Play" and reprised his role in the film version "A Soldier's Story". Although primarily known for his dramatic work, Grier began to shift towards comedy, making memorable appearances in the cult films "Amazon Women on the Moon" and "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka". Keenan Ivory Wayans, the director of "Sucka", 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. Among his prominent characters were obnoxious, megaphone-blaring shop teacher Al MacAfee; the elderly Mr. Brooks, whose autumn years are a never-ending verbal battle with his wife; Calhoun Tubbs, a blues musician with very limited creativity; a member of Funky Finger Productions, a production company with more ambition than resources; and, most famously, flamboyant and proud homosexual Antoine Merriweather in the recurring sketch 'Men On Film'. He also played Rev. Leon Lonnie Love on the TV series Martin. After his success on the show, Grier began appearing in comedies such as "Boomerang" (as Eddie Murphy's shy friend Gerard) "Blankman" (with Damon Wayans), "In the Army Now" (as Fred Ostroff) along with Pauley Shore and Andy Dick in 1994, and as a policeman whose car is memorably crushed and eaten by a giant pod in "Jumanji". Grier also gave a strong dramatic performance as an abusive father in Rusty Cundieff's horror anthology Tales from the Hood.
After the cancellation of "In Living Color", Grier starred in the short-lived sitcoms "The Preston Episodes", "Damon" (with "In Living Color" co-star Damon Wayans) and "DAG". He began doing stand-up comedy and was an instant success. He hosted the Comedy Central series "Premium Blend". He also returned to Broadway in the musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". In 2002, Grier joined the cast of the improv-based ABC sitcom and Bonnie Hunt vehicle "Life with Bonnie" which ran only two seasons. During this time, he continued to appear in comedy films but also returned to drama in the films "BAADASSSSS!" and "The Woodsman". 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 will also host his own national late night syndicated TV show in early 2007. He is currently starring in the revival production of "The Wiz" at the La Jolla Playhouse directed by Des McAnuff.
Grier is in talks to play the lead role in "The Nation", a musical based on the rise of Louis Farrakhan. Grier reports, 'It has always been a dream of mine to take the controversy filled life of Minister Farrakhan and incorporate song and intricate dance routines. I really feel this could be my career defining role'. David Alan Grier recently starred in Gym Teacher: The Movie playing the villain, Shelly Bragg.
In October 2008, Grier is going to be hosting a new Comedy Central show called Chocolate News which will focus on African Americans view on the world.
"Loveline"
He was often referred to as the third host of the radio show "Loveline", as he was a frequent and popular guest & guest host(usually filling in for Adam Carolla). One of his most famous contributions was a bit where he began calling out various pharmaceutical drugs Dr. Drew was recommending to a caller as though they were the names of black children being yelled at by their parents.
Also, on one of his other infamous episodes on 2002-09-25, David stops by lamenting his recent breakup with his girlfriend of four years. He recently (at the time) found out she had been cheating on him with multiple famous actors, at one point in the show DAG coughs while saying the names to avoid legal troubles.
During the show Engineer Anderson slows down the recording and plays it back, and the listeners are able to discern the names Tom Sizemore and Colin Farell from them. It is still unclear who the third person he named was.
Grier's last appearance on "Loveline" was April 16, 2006. On his MySpace page, Grier posted in a blog:
"The Adam Carolla Show"
Grier has made many guest appearances on the Adam Carolla Show (97.1 FreeFM), usually to plug his improv performances and have fun with the gang. One of his recurring bits is where he enacts a heavy-set black woman named Peanut who does a terrible job answering the phones at FreeFM. He also frequently antagonizes the co-host Teresa Strasser. This is done most often by snoring loudly while Teresa reads the news.
Personal life
Grier was previously married to Maritza Rivera and they were divorced in 1987. In July 2007, he married Christine Y. Kim, Associate Curator at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Kim gave birth to their daughter Luisa Danbi Grier-Kim on January 10 2008 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
"In Living Color"
Characters
Al MacAfee
Antoine Merriweather ("Men On Film")
Calhoun Tubbs
Cephus ("Cephus & Reesie")
Clavelle ("Funky Finger Productions")
David ("Life with Bonnie")
Doug McPherson ("Hemorrhoid Guy")
Hoke ("Driving Miss Schott")
Jazz Mo' ("Life with Bonnie")
Lamont Hightower
Leon ("Snack 'n Shack")
Lil' Magic's Mom
Little Kid ("Homey D. Clown")
Lonnie Anderson
Loomis Simmons
Mac
Mr. Brooks
Sammy ("Zodiac Comedy Shack")
Tiny ("Prison Cable Network")
Don 'No Soul' Simmons ("Amazon Women on the Moon")
Impressions
Al Sharpton
Clarence Thomas
Colin Powell
Dr. Dre
Gary Coleman
Ike Turner
Joe Jackson
Leonard Nimoy
Marion Barry
Maya Angelou
Michael Winslow
Muhammad Ali
Ray Charles
Rodney King
Sinbad
Dr. Drew Pinsky
Rev. Jeremiah Wright
External links
(David Alan Grier - 'Thank God You're Here' Host)
(David Alan Grier) at the (Star Wars Actors Database)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about David Alan Grier.
