Born April 3, 1959 in Saratoga, New York, USA, David Hyde Pierce is an American actor and comedian best known for playing psychiatrist Dr. Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier, for which he received many accolades including four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting actor in a Comedy Series.
He is the youngest child of Laura Marie Pierce and George Pierce, an insurance agent and aspiring actor. He has three older siblings namely Barbara, Nancy and 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 d 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 was not 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 theatre during the late 80s and early 90s.
Pierce’s first big television break came in the early 1990s with Norman Lear’s political comedy The Powers That Be, in which Pierce played Theodore, a Congressman. Despite positive reviews from critics, the show was canceled after a brief run. He appeared in small roles in films such as Bright Lights, Big City (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).
In 2010, Pierce appeared in a revival of David Hirson’s play La Bête directed by Matthew Warchus. The production debuted on London’s West End before moving to New York. Also in 2010, Pierce delivered an outstanding performance in his first starring film role as the memorable Warwick Wilson in the dark comedy/psychological thriller ‘The Perfect Host’.
Pierce is known for his distinctive voice and, like his Frasier co-star Kelsey Grammer, is often called upon to provide voice work. His notable roles include the narrator of the movie “The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human” in 1999, walking stick insect Slim in A Bug’s Life, Doctor Delbert Doppler in Disney’s film Treasure Planet, and the amphibian Abe Sapien in Hellboy. Pierce refused credit for his Hellboy role because he felt it was the performance of Doug Jones, and not his own voice, which ultimately brought the character of Abe Sapien to life. He was the voice for Drix, a cold pill in the animated comedy Osmosis Jones.
In 2007, David’s relationship with long-time partner, television writer, director and producer, Brian Hargrove became public. Pierce later confirmed through his publicist that he and Hargrove were indeed a couple. They married in California on October 24, 2008, just days before Proposition 8 was adopted as law, banning same-sex marriages in the state. There are many speculations about his sexuality. David resides in Los Angeles with Hargrove and their two Wheaton Terriers, Maude and Mabel. Pierce and Hargrove divide their time between New York and Los Angeles. He remains very close to his three siblings.
David Hyde Pierce Photo Gallery
