David Alan Grier

Biography

An American actor and comedian, David Alan Grier studied at the Yale School of Drama and earned an M.F.A. there before making his film debut in Robert Altman's Streamers, which brought him the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival. Born in Detroit, Grier first gained wide recognition on television with the sketch series In Living Color, where he played multiple roles, and as Reverend Leon Lonnie Love on Martin. His film credits include A Soldier's Story, Boomerang, Jumanji (1995), The Color Purple (2023), and The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024). On Broadway he won a Tony Award for the revival of A Soldier's Play and earned nominations for The First and Porgy and Bess. He created the satirical series Chocolate News, played the Lion in The Wiz Live! (2015), played Joe Carmichael on The Carmichael Show, and plays Ron on St. Denis Medical.

70years old

Turns 71 on June 30in 241 days

Born June 30, 1956Detroit
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Also credited as DAG

Movie Career

Films: 47
Career span: 41 years1983 to 2024

Genres

Comedy64%, 30 films
Drama34%, 16 films
Action21%, 10 films
Crime19%, 9 films
Family19%, 9 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Grier began his career in 1981, voicing an unnamed X-wing pilot in the National Public Radio drama version of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, during the Battle of Yavin.
A first
Grier's feature film debut came in Robert Altman's Streamers, and he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for it.
Behind the award
Grier won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for playing Tech Sergeant Vernon C. Waters in the 2020 Broadway production of A Soldier's Play, a role Adolph Caesar originated off-Broadway.
Early training
While studying at the Yale School of Drama, Grier was noticed by visiting lecturer Rachel Roberts during a performance of a piece called The Place of the Spirit Dance.
Behind the camera
Grier took the lead role in Chocolate News, a Comedy Central show, in 2008. Its run was a single season of ten episodes, and it featured satirical sketches about news stories and current events.

David Alan Grier movies on Netflix

The American Society of Magical Negroes2024IMDb rating 3.9as Roger
Candy Cane Lane2023IMDb rating 5.6as Santa Claus
The Color Purple2023IMDb rating 6.8as Reverend Avery
They Cloned Tyrone2023IMDb rating 6.7as The Preacher
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration2022IMDb rating 6.7as Cogsworth
Clifford the Big Red Dog2021IMDb rating 5.9as Packard
Coffee & Kareem2020IMDb rating 5.2as Captain Hill
Native Son2019IMDb rating 5.7as Marty
Arizona2018IMDb rating 5.8as Coburn
A Christmas Story Live!2017IMDb rating 4.8as Santa Claus
The Big Sick2017IMDb rating 7.5as Andy Dodd
The Wiz Live!2015IMDb rating 7.1as The Cowardly Lion
Peeples2013IMDb rating 5.4as Virgil Peeples
The Watsons Go to Birmingham2013IMDb rating 6.6as Mr. Robert
Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil2011IMDb rating 4.7as Moss the Troll (voice)
Something Like a Business2010IMDb rating 3.7as 3D
Astro Boy2009IMDb rating 6.3as Mr. Squirt / Math Cowboy / Boxer Robot (voice)
Dance Flick2009IMDb rating 3.7as Sugar Bear
The Poker House2008IMDb rating 6.2as Stymie
Littleman2006IMDb rating 4.6as Jimmy
Bewitched2005IMDb rating 4.9as Jim Fields
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz2005IMDb rating 5.2as Uncle Henry
The Woodsman2004IMDb rating 7.1as Bob
Baadasssss!2003IMDb rating 7.3as Clyde Houston
Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie2003IMDb rating 7.2as Limo Driver
Tiptoes2002IMDb rating 4.2as Jerry Robin Jr.
15 Minutes2001IMDb rating 6.1as Mugger in Central Park
3 Strikes2000IMDb rating 4.8as Detective Jenkins
Angels in the Infield2000IMDb rating 4.9as Bob Bugler
Return to Me2000IMDb rating 7.0as Charlie Johnson
The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle2000IMDb rating 4.3as Measures
Stuart Little1999IMDb rating 6.0as Red (Alley Cat) (voice)
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!1998IMDb rating 6.5as Himself
McHale's Navy1997IMDb rating 4.6as Ensign Charles Parker
Top of the World1997IMDb rating 4.7as Detective Augustus
Jumanji1995IMDb rating 7.1as Carl Bentley
Tales from the Hood1995IMDb rating 6.6as Carl Johnson (segment "Boys Do Get Bruised")
Blankman1994IMDb rating 5.2as Kevin Walker
In the Army Now1994IMDb rating 5.0as Fred Ostroff
Boomerang1992IMDb rating 5.7as Gerard
Almost an Angel1990IMDb rating 5.6as Det. Bill
Loose Cannons1990IMDb rating 4.9as Drummond
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka1988IMDb rating 6.6as Newsman
Off Limits1988IMDb rating 6.2as Rogers
From the Hip1987IMDb rating 6.1as Steve Hadley
A Soldier's Story1984IMDb rating 7.2as Corporal Cobb
Streamers1983IMDb rating 6.4as Roger

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Jumanji1995 Adventure, Family, Fantasyas Carl Bentley
IMDb rating 7.1420K votes
The Woodsman2004 Dramaas Bob
IMDb rating 7.137K votes
Stuart Little1999as Red (Alley Cat)voice
IMDb rating 6.0162K votes
They Cloned Tyrone2023as The Preacher
IMDb rating 6.749K votes
Boomerang1992as Gerard
IMDb rating 5.733K votes
The American Society of Magical Negroes2024as Roger
IMDb rating 3.913K votes
Littleman2006as Jimmy
IMDb rating 4.667K votes
Blankman1994as Kevin Walker
IMDb rating 5.211K votes

Most often with

Keenen Ivory Wayans directed two of these films, Reginald Hudlin two and Bob Clark two. Chris Rock appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Chris Rock

Robert De Niro

Keith David

Lochlyn Munro

Charlize Theron

Eddie Murphy

Keenen Ivory WayansDirector, 2 films

Reginald HudlinDirector, 2 films Bob ClarkDirector, 2 films

Films together

Chris Rock3 films together, 1988 to 1998
Chris Rock's page
- Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!1998IMDb rating 6.5Grier as HimselfRock as Himself
- Boomerang1992IMDb rating 5.7Grier as GerardRock as Bony T
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka1988IMDb rating 6.6Grier as NewsmanRock as Rib Joint Customer
Robert De Niro2 films together, 2000 to 2001
Robert De Niro's page
- 15 Minutes2001IMDb rating 6.1Grier as Mugger in Central ParkNiro as Detective Eddie Flemming
- The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle2000IMDb rating 4.3Grier as MeasuresNiro as Fearless Leader
Keith David2 films together, 1988 to 2010
Keith David's page
- Something Like a Business2010IMDb rating 3.7Grier as 3DDavid as Sebastian
- Off Limits1988IMDb rating 6.2Grier as RogersDavid as Maurice
Lochlyn Munro2 films together, 2006 to 2009
Lochlyn Munro's page
- Dance Flick2009IMDb rating 3.7Grier as Sugar BearMunro as Coach Effron
- Littleman2006IMDb rating 4.6Grier as JimmyMunro as Greg
Charlize Theron2 films together, 2001 to 2009
Charlize Theron's page
- Astro Boy2009IMDb rating 6.3Grier as Mr. Squirt / Math Cowboy / Boxer RobotvoiceTheron as 'Our Friends' Narratorvoice
- 15 Minutes2001IMDb rating 6.1Grier as Mugger in Central ParkTheron as Rose Hearn
Eddie Murphy2 films together, 1992 to 2023
Eddie Murphy's page
- Candy Cane Lane2023IMDb rating 5.6Grier as Santa ClausMurphy as Chris Carver
- Boomerang1992IMDb rating 5.7Grier as GerardMurphy as Marcus
Keenen Ivory WayansDirector, 2 films, 1988 to 2006
All films by Keenen Ivory Wayans
- Littleman2006IMDb rating 4.6Grier as Jimmy
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka1988IMDb rating 6.6Grier as Newsman
Reginald HudlinDirector, 2 films, 1992 to 2023
All films by Reginald Hudlin
- Candy Cane Lane2023IMDb rating 5.6Grier as Santa Claus
- Boomerang1992IMDb rating 5.7Grier as Gerard
Bob ClarkDirector, 2 films, 1987 to 1990
All films by Bob Clark
- Loose Cannons1990IMDb rating 4.9Grier as Drummond
- From the Hip1987IMDb rating 6.1Grier as Steve Hadley
Also two films together34 more actors
- Patrick WarburtonHoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (2011) and Angels in the Infield (2000)
- Martin ShortBeauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration (2022) and Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (2011)
- Queen LatifahThe Wiz Live! (2015) and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)
- Jason AlexanderThe Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000) and Blankman (1994)
- Kenan ThompsonClifford the Big Red Dog (2021) and The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000)
- Taraji P. HensonThe Color Purple (2023) and Coffee & Kareem (2020)
- Kerry WashingtonPeeples (2013) and Littleman (2006)
- Amy SedarisDance Flick (2009) and Bewitched (2005)
- Nathan LaneAstro Boy (2009) and Stuart Little (1999)
- Andy DickHoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (2011) and In the Army Now (1994)
- Tony CoxBlankman (1994) and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
- Marlon WayansDance Flick (2009) and Littleman (2006)
- Chazz PalminteriLittleman (2006) and Stuart Little (1999)
- Tommy ChongHoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (2011) and McHale's Navy (1997)
- Antonio Fargas3 Strikes (2000) and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
- Bonnie HuntReturn to Me (2000) and Jumanji (1995)
- Clarence Williams IIITales from the Hood (1995) and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
- Paul RodriguezClifford the Big Red Dog (2021) and Baadasssss! (2003)
- Ana GasteyerA Christmas Story Live! (2017) and Peeples (2013)
- Robin GivensBlankman (1994) and Boomerang (1992)
- Damon WayansBlankman (1994) and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
- John WitherspoonLittleman (2006) and Boomerang (1992)
- Wings HauserTales from the Hood (1995) and A Soldier's Story (1984)
- James Handy15 Minutes (2001) and Jumanji (1995)
- S. Epatha MerkersonPeeples (2013) and Loose Cannons (1990)
- Damon Wayans Jr.Dance Flick (2009) and Blankman (1994)
- Melvin Van PeeblesPeeples (2013) and Boomerang (1992)
- Kevin ClashThe Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005) and Sesame Street: Elmopalooza! (1998)
- Keenen Ivory WayansDance Flick (2009) and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
- De'aundre Bonds3 Strikes (2000) and Tales from the Hood (1995)
- Shawn WayansDance Flick (2009) and Littleman (2006)
- H.E.R.The Color Purple (2023) and Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration (2022)
- Javon JohnsonThe Watsons Go to Birmingham (2013) and The Poker House (2008)
- Robert Irvin ElliottLoose Cannons (1990) and From the Hip (1987)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.