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Kelsey Grammer vies for fourth Emmy

From Paul Vercammen
CNN Entertainment Correspondent

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Kelsey Grammer, forever linked with the pompous shrink Dr. Frasier Crane, is in the running for his fourth Emmy. Not bad for someone who constantly ditched class during his days at the Julliard acting school.

Grammer first appeared as Frasier on "Cheers" in 1984. That role has given him lots of mileage ... and critical acclaim.

He is the only actor to be nominated for three TV shows -- all for the same character. Grammer earned two Emmy nods as a supporting actor on "Cheers" in 1998 and 1990; one for a guest appearance on "Wings" in 1992; and seven nominations as outstanding lead actor for "Frasier" (NBC).

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Three of those "Frasier" nominations (1994, 1995 and 1998) became awards.

This year, Grammer is competing for outstanding actor in a comedy series against Michael J. Fox, "Spin City" (ABC); John Lithgow, "3rd Rock from the Sun" (NBC); Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace" (NBC); and Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond" (CBS).

Counting the "Cheers" years, Grammer is entering his 17th season as Frasier. The prime-time record for playing one character is held by James Arness, who played Marshall Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke" for 20 years.

Off screen, Grammer, 45, has had his share of tragedy and challenges. His father was murdered in the Virgin Islands when he was 12; eight years later his sister was abducted, raped and murdered after leaving a Red Lobster restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and his two half-brothers died in 1980 while a scuba diving accident off St. Thomas.

Police arrested him in 1988 on charges of drunken driving and cocaine possession. Grammer failed to show up for two arraignments or at his court-ordered community service and was sentenced him to 30 days in jail.

In 1996, Grammer flipped his sports car in another alcohol-related incident. Following that event, he checked himself into the Betty Ford Center for treatment before returning to work on "Frasier."

Grammer says his life is on track now, and he has no plans to abandon his award-winning show yet.

Grammer follows Allen with an appendectomy
October 27, 1999
'Frasier' sets Emmy record on TV night to remember
September 13, 1998

KelseyLive.com
'Frasier' NBC

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