Frasier is one of my favorite shows, so this one hit me kind of hard.
Love that show in its early seasons.
Am I right that he was playing against his actual personality in that show? I want to say I heard he was the actual smart, well-read, and erudite one on the set.
Shit, I’m right now watching the episode of *Foyle’s War *where he guests.
I thought he died quite a while ago. Weird.
Me too, I was certain of that. Even went to look it up.
mmm
Also British, and gay.
Yes, it’s true. I’ve read that he taught David Hyde Pierce to appreciate opera.
Yes, I’d forgotten that. Yeah, he was a great actor, playing nothing similar to himself. That “Bulldog” guy is also gay and nothing like his sports-dj character, I think.
“Under hospice care” so it wasn’t unexpected by the family.
Still, he was one of the greats. RIP, John.
Oh fuck. One of the good guys is gone.
Indeed.
I only saw his work in Frasier. John was always very good playing the grumpy old man. I liked the way Martin always brought Frasier down a peg and kept his ego in check.
I heard John was actually in good health when he played that role.
RIP John
Oh dear. I’m so sorry to read this. I loved him as Frasier’s dad. But I also loved him in Moonstruck, where he flirted with Olympia Dukakis in that restaurant after the female student he was dating threw a drink in his face. He was only 77?
I guess he’s in that great big ugly reclinerin the sky now.
I was about to say my wife and I were just talking about him because we were watching Moonstruck and pointed him out. He’s also in Primal Fear, remember that? Doing the heavy drama thing with no comedy tied in. The police commissioner or something like that? Anyway, he’ll be missed; rest well, John.
He was also the ever-caring but ultimately duplicitous father of Ione Skye’s character in Say Anything… A great character actor who nailed every role I ever say him play.
Stranger
Born in England yes but moved to the US in his teens and purposely lost his accent before he became an actor. He was in the Army and got tired of being teased about his accent.
As for being gay I don’t believe he ever officially came out. He had colon cancer years ago which meant he had to live with a colostomy bag and had several other health issues. I remember seeing him interviewed and when asked about his personal life he basically said his health issues had kept him from being in a relationship for years. Other than that he was very private.
He didn’t start acting until later in life and then Gary Sinese asked him to join Steppenwolf. As good as he was in tv and movies he was better regarded on the stage.
He did have colon cancer in the 80s but had beat it by the time the show was on. And he was only 15 years older than Kelsey Grammer. Acting!
Came in to mention this role. So strong in his justification of his crimes and ultimately forced to face the reality of prosecution and everything it costs him. The scene where his credit cards get declined, and the prison scene with Cusack, are just brilliantly played.
He had a great guest role on *Cheers *as a jingle-writer. Don’t have time to search for it now, but I imagine it is immortalized on YouTube somewhere.
Ah, here it is: Beer and pretzels that's our game, C-H-E-R-S - YouTube
He was only 15 years older than Kelsey Grammer, so, not really old enough to be his dad.