David Hyde Pierce was born April 3, 1959 in Saratoga Springs, New York. Prior to acting, Pierce developed an early love for music, particularly the piano, which led him to become an organist with his local parish at Bethesda Episcopal Church. He realized his passion for drama when he was in high school and received the Yaddo Medal for best Dramatic Arts student on his graduation. Although he pursued his musical calling by taking up classical piano at Yale University, he soon got bored with music history lessons and discovered that he didn’t have the dedication to put in the amount of practice required to become a concert pianist. He decided to focus his energies towards acting and graduated with a double major in Theatre Arts and English. Pierce undertook odd and menial jobs like selling ties at Bloomingdales and working as a security guard, while struggling to make a name as an actor. His big break came when he was cast as Dr. Niles Crane on the sitcom, Frasier, for which he was nominated a record 11 times in the Emmy Awards as Best Supporting Actor. Pierce went on to win four times in 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2004.
Dr. Niles Crane, played by David Hyde Pierce on Frasier, is Frasier’s younger brother and fellow psychiatrist. Although he is actually smarter than his brother, Niles has constantly found himself in Frasier’s shadow. He is jealous of Frasier’s fame and feels that his talents and skills are wasted on the radio. Niles used to be trapped in a difficult, oppressive and lackluster marriage to Maris but since their divorce, he has finally found the courage to tell Daphne, his dad’s physical therapist, his long-hidden feelings for her.
(Photo courtesy of NBC)
Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
-David received his initial interview with the creators of Frasier due to his close resemblance to a young Kelsey Grammer. After the interview, the part of Dr. Niles Crane was written for him.
-David is active in the fight to find a cure for Alzheimer's, which both his father and grandfather suffered from.
-David's jobs before he embarked on his acting career included a stint as a security guard and a tie salesman.
David holds the record for most Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Series, Comedy or Drama. He received 11 consecutive nominations for his portrayal as Dr. Niles Crane on Frasier, winning 4 times.
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings (1988)
Bright Lights, Big City (1988)
Crossing Delancey (1988)
Rocket Gibraltar (1988)
Vampire's Kiss (1989)
Across Five Aprils (1990)
Little Man Tate (1991)
The Fisher King (1991)
The Powers That Be (1992) (TV)
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Frasier (1993–2004) (TV)
Addams Family Values (1993)
Wolf (1994)
Ripple (1995)
Nixon (1995) (portraying John W. Dean)
Mighty Ducks (1996) (TV)
The Outer Limits (1996) (TV)
The Simpsons (1997) - Cecil Terwilliger
A Bug's Life (1998)
Jackie's Back (1999)
The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human (1999)
Isn't She Great (2000)
Chain of Fools (2000)
The Tangerine Bear (2000)
Titus (2001) (TV)
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
On the Edge (2001)
Happy Birthday (2001)
Osmosis Jones (2001)
Laud Weiner (2001)
Full Frontal (2002)
Treasure Planet (2002)
Down with Love (2003)
Hellboy (2004) - Abe Sapien (voice - uncredited)
The Amazing Screw-On Head (2006) (TV)
Spamalot (2006) - Sir Robin
Curtains (2007) - Lt. Frank Cioffi (stage musical)
The Simpsons (2007) - Cecil Terwilliger
-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.
-So much of good comedy is timing and being able to hear the music of a line and the rhythm of a joke. I think that's why a lot of the best comedians have some sort of musical instincts. That's one reason why Kelsey and I work so well together. He's also a musician.
-I am, by nature, a fairly shy person, and one of the things I had to learn was, when you're on a popular show and people feel they know you, what used to pass for shyness can be perceived as rude. I do feel more vulnerable, but people are always nice. Nobody ever comes up and throws food on me and says the show is crap.
-Both my parents had a strong influence on my sense of humour and my ending up in this profession. They both had terrific and very different senses of humour. Mom had a very dry, deadpan sense of humour. My Dad has a very wet, anything-goes kind of humour. He tends toward the wild and crazy.