- Born
- Height5′ 9½″ (1.77 m)
- David Hyde Pierce was born 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 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 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 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.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Calliope
- SpouseBrian Hargrove(October 24, 2008 - present)
- ParentsLaura Marie HughesGeorge Hyde Pierce
- RelativesNancy Pierce(Sibling)Barbara Pierce(Sibling)Thomas Pierce(Sibling)
- Cleft chin
- Distinctive, mellow voice
- Deadpan comic delivery
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Attended Yale with Jodie Foster. When she was preparing to direct Little Man Tate (1991), she remembered him from a play he was in at that time and called and offered him a part.
- 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.
- Frasier (1993) - $750,000 /episode
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content