David Alan Grier (born June 30, 1955) is an American actor and comedian most known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.
Grier was born in Detroit, Michigan to William H. Grier, co-author of 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.
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 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 Oustanding 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 and as a policeman whose car is memorably crushed by stampeding elephants 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 contoversy filled life of Minister Farrakhan and incorporate song and intricate dance routines. I really feel this could be my career defining role."
He is often referred to as the third host of the radio show Loveline, as he is a frequent and popular guest. Grier's last appearance on Loveline was April 16, 2006. On his MySpace, Grier posted in a blog...
To all of my loyal fans. It pains me greatly to inform you all that I will probably never be heard on the radio show Loveline again. I have been informed of this sad fact by the one and only Dr. Drew Pinsky. I know not how or why this has happened, but we must ALL move on...
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.
