David Hyde Pierce Biography

DAVID HYDE PIERCE

Date of Birth: April 3, 1959

David Hyde Pierce was born in Saratoga Springs, New York. In high school, he received the Yaddo Medal as best dramatic arts student upon graduation in 1977. Pierce then went to Yale and graduated with a double major in English and theater arts.

In 1981, he went to New York City and quickly got a job selling ties in Bloomingdale's while continuing his studies in acting. He landed his first professional acting job in Beyond Therapy on Broadway, followed by stints off-Broadway and in regional theater. Between 1983 and 1985, he worked in various productions at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis before returning to appear in the New York Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet.

He interrupted his stage work for a role in his first feature film, Bright Lights, Big City (1988), before departing on a tour of the Soviet Union and Japan in The Cherry Orchard from 1988 to 1989.

Pierce's big break came when he appeared on Broadway for six months in The Heidi Chronicles, earning him the attention of the media and his peers. More feature roles followed in such films as Little Man Tate and The Fisher King (both in 1991).

But it was after the filming of Sleepless in Seattle (1993) that Pierce got his biggest break. 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 Dr. Niles Crane was written for him.

Pierce has received two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four American Comedy Awards and four Viewers for Quality Television Awards for his portrayal of the snobbish psychiatrist Niles Crane, brother to the title character on Frasier. "His relationship with Frasier is a mix of sibling rivalry, condescension, passive aggression and brotherly love," says Pierce.

Prior to Frasier, Pierce starred in the former series The Powers That Be (1992), in which he portrayed Theodore Van Horn, a chronically depressed and suicidal United States congressman. His additional television credits include guest-starring roles on the series Spenser: For Hire, Caroline in the City, The Outer Limits, The Simpsons and Disney's Hercules.

Pierce is the co-chairman of the Alzheimer's Association for which he works tirelessly to raise funds and awareness of the condition. (DHP's beloved grandfather and other relatives died from the condition) In March 1999, Pierce was honored by The Alzheimer's Association for all his devoted work with them over the past few years with a dinner in his honour in Los Angeles.

While not on set, Pierce enjoys playing piano (he is also an accomplished organist), being with his dog, and skiing. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

Filmography:

Down with Love (2003)
Treasure Planet (2002) (voice)
Full Frontal (2002)
Osmosis Jones (2001) (voice)
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Happy Birthday (2000)
The Tangerine Bear (2000)
Chain of Fools (2000)
Isn't She Great (2000)
The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human (1999)
A Bug's Life (1998) (voice)
Nixon (1995)
Wolf (1994)
Addams Family Values (1993)
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Little Man Tate (1991)
The Fisher King (1991)
Civil War Diary (1990)
Vampire's Kiss (1989)
Bright Lights, Big City (1988)
Crossing Delancey (1988)
Rocket Gibraltar (1988)