When you think of Frasier, what first comes to mind? Is it Kesley Grammer's soothing voice? Is it Eddie The Dog? The utterly sharp and consistent scripts?
While there's no shortage of examples of why the 1990s' and early 2000s' sitcom was so incredibly appealing, the chemistry between the cast is what attracted many. It's even more impressive when you learn that they didn't always see eye-to-eye. But, for the most part, there was a genuine connection between each of the cast members, perhaps no more so than between Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane and David Hyde Pierce's Niles Crane.
Of course, Frasier, like Cheers before it, made Kelsey Grammer a massive star. His role as Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons only made him even more famous. But what exactly happened to David? His odd disappearance has caused fans to wonder if he's quit Hollywood altogether. Here's the truth of the matter...
The Real Reason For David's Apparent Disappearance
During a 2017 interview with Vulture about his career and his promotion of his role in Broadway's "Hello, Dolly!", David Hyde Pierce shed a lot of light as to why fans rarely see him in mainstream shows, movies, or just generally out in public. And it all has to do with his deep dislike and total discomfort with the notion of being famous.
"[I was] completely uncomfortable [with fame]. It was something I had never encountered in 12, 13 years in the business as an actor in New York in the theater. It’s not something I’d ever been interested in or sought out," David said in the interview. "I was on a show before I did Frasier, and I got a call at seven in the morning at home in Los Angeles from the tabloid, The Globe. The conversation started with the reporter saying, 'I’m sorry to call you so early, but your mom said this was the best time to get you at home.' And I thought, how did you find my mother? And who the f*** is this? Somehow, they found my family and she thought it was the Boston Globe. This was before I was on Frasier on a show that got canceled. But that was my first introduction to the invasion of privacy that happens when you have that kind of celebrity. There were photographers hiding in trees taking pictures of me walking my dog with my dad and stuff like that. I don’t like that. I certainly didn’t grow up in a culture where that was part of being an actor. So that was hard. Or it was unexpected."
So, it's clear that David has done his best to focus on the parts of acting that really inspire him and leave the parts that he doesn't like at the door. That means hiding from the public as much as humanely possible. There's no doubt that the incredible fortune that he made during his years on Frasier has allowed him to be extremely selective about the work he does, which is why he's spent most of his time in the theater.
Additionally, according to Cheat Sheet, David came out after his years on Frasier despite being with his husband since the early 1980s. He clearly didn't want the world to know about his personal life as he perceives that it could have changed the way people looked at his Niles Crane role.
Nevertheless, David has still maintained an incredible work-life after his multi-award-winning performance as Niles. His resume after Frasier includes A Bug's Life, Hellboy, and just an incredible amount of theater.
Did David Actually Enjoy Being On Frasier?
Even though David really didn't feel comfortable with the amount of fame that Frasier brought him, there's no doubt that he adored his experience on the show.
"It was bliss. That’s the word I would use. It was 11 years, we had the best time, we had the best writers," David said in his interview with Vulture. "We were a good cast, but it has to be good writing to all these years later see it and have it not be dated. It’s funny, it feels like a more significant part of my life to you, because it is the most public part of my life. And it’s a very important part of my life, but in terms of my performing career, it’s about a third of my life. I spent about 12 years in New York doing theater and I did about 11 years on Frasier and it’s been ten years, at least, that I’ve been back in New York doing theater. So there’s no question that in terms of public persona, Frasier was the highest level, and it’s a time I cherish, but it is in the context of a larger arc of working on amazing projects with amazing people."
At this point, it doesn't seem as though David will be taking any more mainstream projects. The truth is, he's far too busy with the theater (especially now that it's coming back after the pandemic). But, more importantly, David just wants to stay out of the spotlight and take on the projects that don't make him feel so uncomfortable.