David Hyde Pierce
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Simpsons
Cecil Terwilliger (voice)
1989
Series
The Simpsons
Felix (voice)
1989
Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014
Series
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Guest
1993
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
The Good Wife
Frank Prady
2009
Series
Frasier
Niles Crane
1993
Series
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
The View
Self - Guest
1997
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter
1956
Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self
1992
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
The Outer Limits
Dr. Jack Henson
1995
Film
A Bug's Life
Slim (voice)
1998
Series
Caroline in the City
Dr. Niles Crane
1995
Series
Caroline in the City
Jimmy Callahan
1995
Series
Hercules
Daedalus
1998
Series
Hercules
Daedalus (voice)
1998
The Tony Danza Show
Self
2004
Series
GMTV
Self
1993
Film
Treasure Planet
Doctor Doppler (voice)
2002
Series
Stars in the House
Self
2020
Series
The Celebrity Apprentice
Self
2004
Series
The Megan Mullally Show
Self - Guest
2006
Series
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
Puss (voice)
1995
Series
Spenser: For Hire
O'Neill
1985
Series
Dream On
Jerry Dorfer
1990
Film
Sleepless in Seattle
Dennis Reed
1993
Film
Addams Family Values
Delivery Room Doctor
1993
Film
Hellboy
Abe Sapien (voice) (uncredited)
2004
Series
Today
Self
1952
Series
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self - Guest
1999
Series
Julia
Paul Child
2022
Series
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
Henry Neumann
2017
Series
Titus
Jerry October
2000
Series
Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series
Baron Von Lichtenstamp (voice)
1996
Film
The Exorcism
Father Conor
2024
Film
Osmosis Jones
Drix (voice)
2001
Series
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
Henry Neumann
2015
Film
The Fisher King
Lou Rosen
1991
Film
Little Man Tate
Garth Emmerick
1991
Film
Wet Hot American Summer
Henry
2001
Film
Wolf
Roy McCallister
1994
Film
Down with Love
Peter MacMannus
2003
Film
Vampire's Kiss
Theater Guy
1989
Series
When We Rise
Dr. Jones
2017
Series
The Emmy Awards
Self
1949
Film
Full Frontal
Carl
2002
Series
The Powers That Be
Theodore Van Horne
1992
Film
Nixon
John Dean
1995
Series
Julie's Greenroom
David Hyde Pierce
2017
Series
Gary the Rat
2003
Film
Stingray Sam
Narrator
2009
The Adventures of Hyperman
1995
Film
Isn't She Great
Michael Hastings
2000
Series
Storytime
1992
Film
The Perfect Host
Warwick Wilson
2010
Series
Knightwatch
Gibson
1988
Film
Bright Lights, Big City
Bartender at Fashion Show
1988
Film
Moving Violations
Immigration Officer
1985
Film
Mouse
Mr. Murdaugh
2026
Celebrity Mix
Self (archive footage)
2005
Film
The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human
The Narrator
1999
Film
This Ordinary Thing
Self (voice)
2025
Film
The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas!
Bird (voice)
2000
Film
Chain of Fools
Mr. Kerner
2001
Vivien & the Florist
John Gielgud
Film
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Niles Crane
1996
The Shakespeare Sessions
2003
Film
Monty Python Conquers America
Self
2008
Film
Crossing Delancey
Mark
1988
Film
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings
Businessman
1988
Film
Frasier: Analyzing the Laughter
Niles Crane
2004
Film
Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
Self
2016
Film
Rocket Gibraltar
Monsieur Henri
1988
Film
The Lavender Scare
Dr. Franklin E. Kameny (voice)
2019
Film
The World of James Bond
Self
1995
Film
Jackie's Back!
Perry (The Deaf Rehearsal Pianist)
1999
Film
On the Edge
Barney (segment "Happy Birthday")
2001
Film
Sondheim! The Birthday Concert
Self - Host
2010
Film
Behind the Couch: The Making of 'Frasier'
Self
2003
Laud Weiner
Laud Weiner
2002
Film
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Vanya
2012
Film
Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot
Self
2015
Film
The Amazing Screw-On Head
Emperor Zombie (voice)
2006
Film
World's Greatest Stand Up: Volume One
self
2006
Film
The Frasier Story
Self
1999
Film
Forever Plaid
The Narrator
2009