Born June 30, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, David Alan Grier is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show “In Living Color.” He is also known as “D.A.G. (DAG).” ComediansUSA has called David as one of those actors who has yet to be typecast in one dramatic realm. He has appeared in everything from Shakespeare to comedy shows, musicals to more serious films. He is a multitalented actor who has received a Tony nomination and much critical acclaim.
He is the son of Aretas Ruth and William Henry Grier, a psychiatrist and writer who co-wrote the book Black Rage. He graduated from Detroit’s Magnet High School, Class Tech and received Bachelor of Arts degree in radio, television and from the University of Michigan, and an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama. Immediately after graduating, he landed the role of Jackie Robinson in the short-lived Broadway musical The First, a musical about baseball great Jackie Robinson which is directed by Martin Charnin and written by Joel Siegel.
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. Grier also appeared as a geology professor at the fictitious Hillman College in the show A Different World where he was a crush of several of the girls on the show including lead character Denise Huxtable played by actress Lisa Bonet.
His television work is highlighted by a turn as principal cast member on the Emmy Award winning In Living Color (1990-1994) where he helped to create some of the show’s most memorable characters, DAG (2000-2001) and Life with Bonnie (2003) which earned an Image and Golden Satellite nomination. David created, wrote and executive produced a show for Comedy Central called Chocolate News (2008). Grier also won America’s votes as a smooth, debonair, and outrageously irreverent contestant on ABC’s smash hit Dancing with the Stars (2009). However, Grier did not hang up his dance shoes just then-he later appeared in the Wayans Brothers’ spoof movie Dance Flick that hit theaters in May 2009.
Grier was previously married to Maritza Rivera but they were divorced in 1995. 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. On June 9, 2009, according to TMZ, Christine filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.
Grier returned to his theatrical roots 2009/2010; he starred in David Mamet’s acclaimed play RACE opposite James Spader and Kerry Washington at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway for which he received a Tony Award nomination.
David Alan Grier Photo Gallery
