Printable Biography of David Alan Grier

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Over the years, he has successfully made the jump from comedy to television to film and still alternates between all three.

David Alan Grier is currently in production on his new series, THE PRESTON EPISODES, which is part of his overall deal with 20th Century Fox including a series commitment from the Fox Network and a feature film deal from the studio's film division: THE PRESTON EPISODES which will be produced by Twentieth Television in association with Grier's production company, has received a firm thirteen episode order from FBC.

David Alan Grier co-starred in the Tristar film JUMANJI with Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt. He also appeared in Spike Lee's anthology film, "Tales From The Hood". Grier was starred in the New York Shakespeare Festival production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in Central Park - the comedy play marked the festival's first free production of the summer. David Alan Grier also debuted as America's newest superhero in Columbia Pictures'. "Blankman" starring alongside Damon Wayans and in Hollywood Pictures' "In The Army Now" with Pauley Shore.

Perhaps best known for his work on the acclaimed Fox TV series "In Living Color," David Alan Grier has helped create some of their most memorable characters; including Antoine Merriwether of "Men On...," old Calhoun Tubbs the blues singer and fast-talking Clavell of "Funky Finger Productions." "I never did a show like this before," Grier notes. "I'm an actor. I come on, you give me my lines and I do them. In this show, the actors took a much more active role in the creative process of shaping the characters and the dialogue."

Despite extensive credits on television and Broadway, David Alan Grier gained recognition for his numerous roles in such films as "Boomerang," "A Soldier's Story," "Off Limits," "From The Hip," "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," "Almost An Angel," "Loose Cannons," "Amazon Women on the Moon" and "Streamers" for which he won a Golden Lion Award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.

A native of Detroit, David Alan Grier attended the University of Michigan and received his Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television and Film. He received his master's degree from the Yale School of Drama and soon after, began his professional career on Broadway in "The First," a musical about Black baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson. Grier's portrayal of Robinson earned him both critical praise and a Tony nomination in 1981.

Following "The First," David Alan Grier joined the cast of Michael Bennett's hit musical "Dreamgirls." He then went on to star with Adolph Cesar and Denzel Washington in the critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway production of "A Soldier's Play," roles which all three actors continued in Norman Jewison's highly successful film version, "A Soldier's Story."

Trained in Shakespeare at Yale, Crier performed the role of Richmond in Richard III with Kevin Kline at the New York Shakespeare Festival. He also starred in "Peer Gynt" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and "Distant Fires" at the Hartford Stage Company.

Now busier than ever with his movie and television projects, Grier currently resides in Los Angeles.