David Alan Grier Movies
David Alan Grier may be best known as a dexterous TV comedy star, but he is also a multi-talented veteran of musicals, plays, and numerous films. Born in Detroit, Grier graduated with a B.A. in radio, TV, and film from the University of Michigan. Shortly after earning his master's degree at the Yale School of Drama, Grier made his Tony award-nominated Broadway debut in 1981, starring in... (read more) the musical The First. Along with a stint in the hit musical Dreamgirls, Grier also did Shakespeare and acted in the off-Broadway drama A Soldier's Play. Moving to film, Grier earned the Venice Film Festival's Best Actor prize for his first feature, Robert Altman's Streamers (1983). Grier was subsequently one of several cast members to make the transition from stage to screen when A Soldier's Play was adapted into the critically lauded, Best Picture nominee A Soldier's Story (1984). Grier moved to lighter cinematic fare with a starring role in the advertising parody Beer (1985) and appeared in a series of undistinguished films, including From the Hip (1986) and Almost an Angel (1990).
Grier's brief role in Keenen Ivory Wayans' dead-on blaxploitation spoof I'm Gonna Git You Sucka! (1988), however, turned into an even more fruitful collaboration when Wayans cast Grier in his comedy sketch show In Living Color. Throughout In Living Color's 1990-1994 run, Grier created some of the show's most memorable characters, including flamboyant, circle-snapping critic Antoine Merriweather of "Men On. . ." Grier maintained his film career by appearing as himself in Altman's Hollywood satire The Player (1992) and co-starring in the Eddie Murphy vehicle Boomerang (1992), as well as Damon Wayans' superhero spoof Blankman (1994). After the show ended, Grier continued to alternate between TV and films, executive producing and starring in the short-lived series The Preston Chronicles (1995), as well as appearing in the Robin Williams hit Jumanji (1995). Grier re-teamed with his "Men On" cohort Damon Wayans for the latter's 1998 sitcom Damon, but it failed to match In Living Color's popularity. Grier notched a ratings hit, and got to display his dramatic chops with his performance as a Black Panther in the miniseries The 60s (1999). After appearing in the lackluster Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000) and Return to Me (2000), Grier took another shot at sitcom success as the title Secret Serviceman in DAG (2000). He subsequently tried starring in a number of sitcoms that failed to take off, but always found consistent supporting work, with recurring roles on Life with Bonnie, Crank Yankers, and in several feature films.
Grier also returned to the stage in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and in 2008, he was given his own show, a no-holds-barred mock-news program in the style of the Daily Show called Chocolate News, which presented both real and fictional news stories from an African American perspective. In 2009 he competed on the eighth season of the reality show Dancing With the Stars, and also appeared in the spoof film Dance Flick. He lent his voice to the animated project Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
Life with Bonnie [TV Series]
2002
In her third attempt to launch a successful starring sitcom, comedienne Bonnie Hunt starred as Bonnie Molloy, host of the low-rated TV chat show "Morning Chicago." The basic...
15 Minutes
R 2001
An action drama centering on the media circus, 15 Minutes focuses on a New York homicide detective named Eddie Flemming (Robert De Niro), a famous figure known for his...
Return to Me
PG 2000
In this romantic comedy, a man loses the love of his life, only to find her heart beating in the body of someone new. Architect Bob Rueland (David Duchovny) is happily married...
East of A
2000
Amy Goldstein directs this hip, indie look at the ups and downs of a trio of New York roommates from 1985 to 1995. The film opens as Peter (Patrick Breen), Reggie...
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
PG 2000
The pride of Frostbite Falls and Whatsamatta U's most famous alumni find their way onto the big screen (and the real world) in this comedy inspired by the popular cartoon series....
3 Strikes
R 2000
Noted hip-hop producer DJ Pooh, who co-wrote the urban comedy Friday, makes his directorial debut with this comedy-drama. A young African-American man is enjoying his...
Happily Ever After Fairy Tales: Goldilocks
2000
Intended primarily for African-American audiences, this animated retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears uses modern hip-hop and jazz references to spice up an...
Angels in the Infield
2000
A baseball player stuck in a losing streak gets some heavenly help in the second sequel to Disney's 1994 hit Angels in the Outfield. Eddie Everett (Patrick Warburton) is...
Dag
2000
The title of this NBC sitcom refers to its protagonist, Secret Service agent Jerome "Dag" Daggett (by an amazing coincidence, the letters in the title also form the initials of...
The '60s
PG13 1999
Originally aired as a two-part miniseries on NBC, The 60's follows two families whose lives mirror much of the political and social tumult of that decade. The Herlihys are a...
A Saintly Switch
1999
A Saintly Switch is a fantasy comedy about a football player switching bodies with his pregnant wife as a result of a magic trick gone bad. ~ Rovi...
Freeway 2: Confessions of a Trickbaby
R 1999
Despite the efforts of her sleazy attorney, Mr. Butz (David Alan Grier), teen drug dealer/car thief Crystal (Natasha Lyonne) is sentenced to a 25-year prison term, the...
Stuart Little
PG 1999
E.B. White's classic children's story is brought to the screen in this fantasy, which combines computer-animated characters with a cast of live actors. Mrs. Little (Geena...
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!
G 1998
It's musical fun with the Sesame Street Muppets as they're joined by some of their friends for this collection of favorite songs from the long-running children's series. Guests...
McHale's Navy
PG 1997
The most disorganized crew in the Navy returns in this updated adaptation of the once-popular TV sitcom. Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale (Tom Arnold) has retired from the U.S. Navy...
Saturday Night Live: David Alan Grier [2]
1997
This 1997 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by David Alan Grier and features musical guest Snoop Doggy Dogg. ~ Skyler Miller, Rovi...
Saturday Night Live: David Alan Grier [1]
1995
This 1995 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by David Alan Grier and features musical guest Silverchair. ~ Skyler Miller, Rovi...
Tales From the Hood
R 1995
Boyz N the Hood meets Tales from the Crypt in this alternately horrific, funny, and socially conscious anthology film. The four grim vignettes are framed by the tale of...
Jumanji
PG 1995
Jumanji is a visually elaborate fantasy about an enchanted board game that opens a magical portal to a jungle universe. Two young children, Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and...
In the Army Now
PG 1994
Comedian Pauly Shore goes to boot camp in this comedy adventure set in Chad. It was filmed on location in the California and Arizona deserts. Shore is cast as Bones, a...