
Acting · Saratoga Springs, New York, USA · Born April 3, 1959
David Hyde Pierce is an American actor, director, and producer best known for his portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier from 1993 to 2004. For his role on Frasier, Pierce won four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, making him the only performer to have won four consecutive Emmys in that category. He also received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Lieutenant Frank Cioffi in the Broadway musical Curtains (2007). Pierce was born David Pierce on April 3, 1959, in Saratoga Springs, New York. He is the youngest of four children. His father, James Joseph Pierce, was a salesman, and his mother, Laura Marie Hughes, was a homemaker. Pierce attended Saratoga Springs High School, where he was a member of the drama club. After graduating from high school, Pierce attended Yale School of Drama, where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1984. Pierce began his acting career in the theater. He appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions, including The Threepenny Opera, The Playboys, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 1989, he made his Broadway debut in the play The Heidi Chronicles. Pierce's breakthrough role came in 1993, when he was cast as Dr. Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier. The show was a spin-off of the popular sitcom Cheers, and it starred Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, a psychiatrist who moves to Seattle to join his brother Niles, also a psychiatrist, in practice. Pierce's portrayal of Niles Crane was both hilarious and nuanced, and he quickly became a fan favorite. For his work on the show, Pierce won four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, making him the only performer to have won four consecutive Emmys in that category. After Frasier ended its run in 2004, Pierce continued to work in television and film. He has starred in a number of television series, including The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and Veep. He has also appeared in a number of films, including Wet Hot American Summer, Down with Love, and A Bug's Life. In addition to his acting work, Pierce is also a director and producer. He has directed episodes of the television series Frasier, The Good Wife, and Veep. He has also produced a number of television projects, including The Good Fight and The Undoing. Pierce is married to Brian Hargrove, a film producer. They have been together since 2002 and were married in 2008.
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2026
as Mr. Murdaugh
MovieThis Ordinary Thing
2025
as Self (voice)
MovieThe Exorcism
2024
as Father Conor
TVJulia
2022
as Paul Child
TVStars in the House
2020
as Self
MovieThe Lavender Scare
2019
as Dr. Franklin E. Kameny (voice)
TVWet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
2017
as Henry Neumann
TVJulie's Greenroom
2017
as David Hyde Pierce
TVWhen We Rise
2017
as Dr. Jones
MovieMust See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
2016
as Self
MovieHurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot
2015
as Self
TVWet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
2015
as Henry Neumann
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
MovieVanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
2012
as Vanya
MovieSondheim! The Birthday Concert
2010
as Self - Host
MovieThe Perfect Host
2010
as Warwick Wilson
TVThe Good Wife
2009
as Frank Prady
MovieForever Plaid
2009
as The Narrator
MovieStingray Sam
2009
as Narrator
MovieMonty Python Conquers America
2008
as Self
TVThe Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
TVThe Megan Mullally Show
2006
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Amazing Screw-On Head
2006
as Emperor Zombie (voice)
MovieWorld's Greatest Stand Up: Volume One
2006
as self
Celebrity Mix
2005
as Self (archive footage)
The Tony Danza Show
2004
as Self
MovieFrasier: Analyzing the Laughter
2004
as Niles Crane
MovieHellboy
2004
as Abe Sapien (voice) (uncredited)
TVThe Celebrity Apprentice
2004
as Self
TVGary the Rat
2003
MovieBehind the Couch: The Making of 'Frasier'
2003
as Self
MovieDown with Love
2003
as Peter MacMannus
The Shakespeare Sessions
2003
MovieTreasure Planet
2002
as Doctor Doppler (voice)
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2002
as Carl
Laud Weiner
2002
as Laud Weiner
MovieOsmosis Jones
2001
as Drix (voice)
MovieWet Hot American Summer
2001
as Henry
MovieOn the Edge
2001
as Barney (segment "Happy Birthday")
MovieChain of Fools
2001
as Mr. Kerner
MovieThe Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas!
2000
as Bird (voice)
TVTitus
2000
as Jerry October
MovieIsn't She Great
2000
as Michael Hastings
MovieThe Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human
1999
as The Narrator
MovieJackie's Back!
1999
as Perry (The Deaf Rehearsal Pianist)
TVThe Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Frasier Story
1999
as Self
MovieA Bug's Life
1998
as Slim (voice)
TVHercules
1998
as Daedalus
TVThe View
1997
as Self
MovieStar Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
1996
as Niles Crane
TVMighty Ducks: The Animated Series
1996
as Baron Von Lichtenstamp (voice)
MovieNixon
1995
as John Dean
The Adventures of Hyperman
1995
MovieThe World of James Bond
1995
as Self
TVCaroline in the City
1995
as Dr. Niles Crane
TVThe Outer Limits
1995
as Dr. Jack Henson
TVHappily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1995
as Puss (voice)
MovieWolf
1994
as Roy McCallister
MovieAddams Family Values
1993
as Delivery Room Doctor
TVFrasier
1993
as Niles Crane
TVLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self - Guest
TVLate Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Guest
MovieSleepless in Seattle
1993
as Dennis Reed
TVGMTV
1993
as Self
TVStorytime
1992
TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
as Self
TVThe Powers That Be
1992
as Theodore Van Horne
MovieThe Fisher King
1991
as Lou Rosen
MovieLittle Man Tate
1991
as Garth Emmerick
TVDream On
1990
as Jerry Dorfer
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Cecil Terwilliger (voice)
MovieVampire's Kiss
1989
as Theater Guy
TVKnightwatch
1988
as Gibson
MovieThe Appointments of Dennis Jennings
1988
as Businessman
TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self - Guest
MovieRocket Gibraltar
1988
as Monsieur Henri
MovieCrossing Delancey
1988
as Mark
MovieBright Lights, Big City
1988
as Bartender at Fashion Show
TVSpenser: For Hire
1985
as O'Neill
MovieMoving Violations
1985
as Immigration Officer
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Presenter
TVToday
1952
as Self
TVThe Emmy Awards
1949
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Nominee
Vivien & The Florist
as John Gielgud