Grier made his feature film debut in Robert Altman's drama
"Streamers" (1983), which earned him the prestigious Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. He went on to appear in numerous films, including "A Soldier's Story" (1984), "Boomerang" (1992), "Jumanji" (1995), "Baadasssss!" (2003), "Bewitched" (2005), "They Cloned Tyrone" (2023), "The Color Purple" (2023), and "The American Society of Magical Negroes" (2024).
"Streamers" (1983), which earned him the prestigious Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. He went on to appear in numerous films, including "A Soldier's Story" (1984), "Boomerang" (1992), "Jumanji" (1995), "Baadasssss!" (2003), "Bewitched" (2005), "They Cloned Tyrone" (2023), "The Color Purple" (2023), and "The American Society of Magical Negroes" (2024).
Grier's stage career has also been illustrious, winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in the Broadway revival of "A Soldier's Play" (2021). He received Tony nominations for his roles as Jackie Robinson in "The First" (1983), Henry Brown in "Race" (2009), and Sporting Life in "Porgy and Bess" (2012). Additional Broadway credits include "Dreamgirls" (1981) and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (1996).
In television, Grier has portrayed various roles, such as Bernard on "Damon" (1998), Jerome Dagget on "DAG" (2000-2001), David Bellows on "Life with Bonnie" (2002-2004), Joe Carmichael on "The Carmichael Show" (2015-2017), the Lion in "The Wiz Live!" (2015), and Hal on "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2018). He also created and executive produced the satirical show "Chocolate News" (2008) for Comedy Central.
Throughout his career, David Alan Grier has showcased his talent and versatility across numerous platforms, establishing himself as a respected and influential figure in the entertainment industry.
Early life and education
Grier grew up as one of three children in a family where his mother, Aretas Ruth (née Blaney), was a schoolteacher, and his father, William Henry Grier, was a psychiatrist and writer who co-wrote the book "Black Rage."
Grier attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit and showed a keen interest in the performing arts from an early age. He went on to earn a B.A. in radio, television, and film from the University of Michigan and an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama in 1981. During his time at Yale, visiting lecturer Rachel Roberts noticed his exceptional performance in a piece called "The Place of the Spirit Dance," which marked a significant turning point in his career.
Grier's upbringing in a family that valued both education and the arts, coupled with his natural talent and dedication, helped set the stage for his successful career in the entertainment industry.
Personal life
David Alan Grier's personal life involves his past marriages, passion for cooking, and his connection to civil rights activism. He was married to Maritza Rivera until their divorce in 1997, and later married Christine Y. Kim, an associate curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, in July 2007. Together, they had a daughter named Luisa Danbi Grier-Kim, born on January 10, 2008. However, Christine filed for divorce in July 2009, citing irreconcilable differences.
Grier grew up in a family that was involved in civil rights activism, and as a child, he participated in the March on Poverty in Detroit, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered an early version of his famous "I Have A Dream" speech.
Beyond acting, Grier has a strong passion for cooking, which he developed during his run in the play Race in 2009. With encouragement from fellow actor James Spader, he started a food blog called "Chocolate Glutton" to document his kitchen adventures and share his favorite recipes with others. Grier has also been known to make his own Sriracha sauce and enjoys sharing his love of cooking through various media appearances and interviews.
