Joel Grey

Joel Grey
Grey in 2022
Born
Joel David Katz

(1932-04-11) April 11, 1932 (age 91)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • dancer
  • singer
  • photographer
  • theatre director
Years active1951–present
Spouse
Jo Wilder
(m. 1958; div. 1982)
Children2, including Jennifer
Parent
RelativesRonald A. Katz (brother)

Joel Grey (born Joel David Katz; April 11, 1932) is an American actor, singer, dancer, photographer, and theatre director. He is best known for portraying the Master of Ceremonies in the musical Cabaret on Broadway and in Bob Fosse's 1972 film adaptation. He has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award. He earned the Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 2023.

Grey's Tony-nominated roles include for the musical George M! (1968), Goodtime Charley (1975), and The Grand Tour (1979). After portraying Amos Hart in the Broadway revival of Chicago (1996), he originated the role of the Wizard of Oz in the musical Wicked (2003) and played Moonface Martin in the 2011 revival of Anything Goes. He directed the 2011 revival of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart earning a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play nomination.

He earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture nomination for his role in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985). His other film roles include in Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976), Kafka (1991), The Music of Chance (1993), The Fantasticks (2000), and Dancer in the Dark (2000). He earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Brooklyn Bridge (1993). He also acted in Oz (2003), Alias (2005), House (2006), Nurse Jackie (2011), and The Old Man (2022).

Early life

Grey was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Goldie "Grace" (née Epstein) and Mickey Katz, an actor, comedian, and musician. Both his parents were Jewish. He attended Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, California.

Career

Early career

Grey in a publicity photo in 1955

Grey started his career, at age 10, in the Cleveland Play House's Curtain Pullers children's theatre program in the early 1940s, appearing in productions such as Grandmother Slyboots, Jack of Tarts and a lead role in their mainstage production of On Borrowed Time. By 1952, at age 20, he was appearing as a featured performer at the Copacabana nightclub in New York. He changed his last name from Katz to Grey early in his career due to the stigma associated with having a surname with an obvious ethnicity attached. Grey made his Broadway acting debut in Borscht Capades where he was credit as "Joel Kaye". He returned to Broadway in The Littlest Revue in 1956 and acted as a replacement in Neil Simon's Come Blow Your Horn in 1961 and the musicals Stop the World – I Want to Get Off in 1962, and Half a Sixpence in 1965.

He started his professional television career on The Colgate Comedy Hour from 1951 to 1954. He then took on roles in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Grey appeared in several TV westerns including Maverick (1959), Bronco (1960) and Lawman (3 times in 1960 and 1961).

Grey with Ann Sothern and Don Porter on The Ann Sothern Show, 1960

1966–1979: Breakthrough

Grey gained his breakthrough performance originating the role of the Master of Ceremonies in the Broadway musical Cabaret by John Kander and Fred Ebb in 1966. He received raves for his role as the malevolent and sinister emcee of the Kit Kat Club. He won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Grey appeared as a panelist for the television game show What's My Line? in the 1967 season, as well as being the first Mystery Guest during its syndication in 1968. His followup role on Broadway was as George M. Cohan in the 1968 musical George M!. Grey was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Performance.

Grey reprised his role as the Master of Ceremonies in the 1972 Bob Fosse directed film version of Cabaret. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in March 1973 for his performance. His victory was part of a Cabaret near-sweep, which saw Liza Minnelli win Best Actress and Bob Fosse win Best Director, although it lost the Best Picture Oscar to The Godfather. For that role, Grey also won a BAFTA award for "The Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles" and Best Supporting Actor awards from the Golden Globes, Kansas City Film Critics Circle, National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, National Society of Film Critics, and a Tony Award for his original stage performance six years prior, making him one of only ten people who have won both a Tony Award and an Academy Award for the same role.

He was the guest star for the fifth episode of The Muppet Show in its first season in 1976, singing "Razzle Dazzle" from Chicago and "Willkommen" from Cabaret. He has performed at The Muny in St. Louis, Missouri, in roles such as George M. Cohan in George M! (1970 and 1992), the Emcee in Cabaret (1971), and Joey Evans in Pal Joey (1983). At the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Grey played the title role in their production of Platonov (1977). He returned to Broadway in the play Goodtime Charley (1975), and the musical The Grand Tour (1979).

Grey at the 45th Emmy Awards, 1993

1980–1999

He also played Master of Sinanju Chiun, Remo's elderly Korean martial arts master in the movie Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), a role that garnered him a Saturn Award and a second Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Chiun's character was popular for the lines "Meat of cow kills", and "You move like a pregnant yak", from the movie. He then acted in Steven Soderbergh's mystery thriller Kafka (1991), starring Jeremy Irons, Theresa Russell and Ian Holm. In 1991, he played Adam, a devil, in the final episode of the television series Dallas (1991). That same year, Grey also appeared in the American Repertory Theatre's production of When We Dead Awaken at the Sao Paulo Biennale.

He narrated the animated film Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992), and made a cameo appearance as himself in the Robert Altman film The Player (1992). The following year he starred in the Philip Haas drama film The Music of Chance (1993) alongside James Spader, Mandy Patinkin, M. Emmet Walsh, and Charles Durning. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Later that year he starred in New York Stage & Film's production of John Patrick Shanley's A Fool and Her Fortune and received an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series nomination for his recurring role as Jacob Prossman on the television series Brooklyn Bridge. In 1995, he made a guest appearance on Star Trek: Voyager as an aging rebel seeking to free his (deceased) wife from prison. In November 1995, he performed as the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True, a staged concert of the popular story at Lincoln Center to benefit the Children's Defense Fund. The performance was originally broadcast on Turner Network Television (TNT) in November 1995, and released on CD and video in 1996.

He returned to Broadway as Amos Hart in the revival of the Bob Fosse musical Chicago (1996). Set in Chicago in the jazz age, the musical is based on a 1926 play of the same title by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, about actual criminals and crimes on which she reported. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal". The revival was well received and Grey earned the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. In 1999, he starred in Brian Friel's Give Me Your Answer, Do! mounted by Roundabout Theatre Company.

2000–2010

Grey at the 2014 Peabody Awards

In 2000, Grey played Oldrich Novy in the Lars von Trier film Dancer in the Dark and acted in the musical film The Fantasticks and in the dark comedy Choke (2008). During this time he also appeared extensively on television. He had a recurring role as the evil reptilian demon Doc in The WB horror series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2001), Lemuel Idzik in the HBO prison drama Oz (2003) and as Another Mr. Sloane in ABC series Alias (2005). He played a wealthy, paroled ex-convict on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (episode "Cuba Libre", 2003). He also appeared on the shows House and Brothers & Sisters (2007), on the latter of which he played the role of Dr. Bar-Shalom, Sarah and Joe's marriage counselor. He appeared as Izzie's high school teacher who needs treatment for dementia in Grey's Anatomy (2009).

Grey originated the role of the Wizard of Oz in the Stephen Schwartz Broadway musical Wicked. Grey took over the role from Robert Morse who previously played the Wizard in the San Francisco tryout run at the Curran Theatre. It is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, in turn based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film adaptation. Grey acted alongside Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. The play received mixed reviews from critics but was an immediate financial hit. Grey was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.

2011–present

Grey returned to Broadway in spring 2011 as Moonface Martin in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Anything Goes at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Having previously portrayed Ned in the 1985 Off-Broadway production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, he went on to co-direct the Tony Award-winning revival in 2011. The following year he made a guest appearance in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie opposite Edie Falco. He also acted in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2014), and Park Bench with Steve Buscemi (2014).

He returned to Broadway in the 2016 revival of the Anton Chekov play The Cherry Orchard starring opposite Diane Lane, and Chuck Cooper. In 2018, Grey directed a Yiddish-language production of Fiddler on the Roof, which originated at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, then transferred to Stage 42 Off-Broadway. The production became a surprise hit, running for over a year and winning the 2019 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Musical Revival. He had a cameo role in the Lin-Manuel Miranda directed musical Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021). In 2022 he acted as Morgan Bote, a recurring character in the FX drama series The Old Man starring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow.

Personal life

Grey with then-wife Jo Wilder in 1979

In 1958, Grey married Jo Wilder; they divorced in 1982. Together, they had two children: actress Jennifer Grey (star of the film Dirty Dancing) and chef James Grey.

He is a photographer; his first book of photographs, Pictures I Had to Take, was published in 2003; its follow-up, Looking Hard at Unexpected Things, was published in 2006. His third book, 1.3 – Images from My Phone, a book of photographs taken with his camera phone, was published in 2009.

An exhibition of his work was held in April 2011 at the Museum of the City of New York, titled "Joel Grey/A New York Life." His fourth book, The Billboard Papers: Photographs by Joel Grey, came out in 2013 and depicts the many-layered billboards of New York City.

In January 2015, Grey discussed his sexuality in an interview with People, stating: "I don't like labels, but if you have to put a label on it, I'm a gay man."

Grey writes about his family, his acting career, and the challenges of being gay in his 2016 memoir, Master of Ceremonies.

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1952 About Face Bender
1957 Calypso Heat Wave Alex Nash
1961 Come September Beagle
1972 Cabaret Master of Ceremonies
1974 Man on a Swing Franklin Wills
1976 The Seven-Per-Cent Solution Lowenstein
1976 Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson Nate Salsbury
1985 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Master of Sinanju Chiun
1991 Kafka Burgel
1992 The Player Himself Cameo
1993 The Music of Chance Willy Stone
1994 The Dangerous "Flea"
1995 Venus Rising Jimmie
1996 The Empty Mirror Joseph Goebbels
1996 My Friend Joe Simon
2000 The Fantasticks Amos Babcock Bellamy
2000 Dancer in the Dark Oldrich Novy
2001 Reaching Normal Dr. Mensley
2008 Choke Phil
2021 Tick, Tick... Boom! "Sunday" Legend

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1951–1954 The Colgate Comedy Hour Himself 4 episodes
1954 Pond's Theater Performer Episode: "Forty Weeks of Uncle Tom"
1956 Jack and the Beanstalk Jack Producers' Showcase
1957 Telephone Time Ray Episode: "The Intruder"
1957 December Bride Jimmy 3 episodes
1957 The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom Himself 4 episodes
1958 The Court of Last Resort Floyd Todd Episode: "The Todd-Loomis Case"
1958 Little Women Theodore "Laurie" Laurence Television film
1959 Maverick Billy "The Kid" Episode: "Full House"
1960 Bronco Samson "Runt" Bowles Episode: "Masquerade"
1960 The Ann Sothern Show Billy Wilton Episode: "Billy"
1960 Surfside 6 Willy Episode: "The Clown"
1960–1961 Lawman Owny O'Reilly 3 episodes
1961 Westinghouse Playhouse Herbie Episode: "Nanette's Teenage Suitor"
1961 77 Sunset Strip Joey Kellogg Episode: "Open and Close in One"
1966 My Lucky Penny Freddy Rockefeller Pilot
1966 Vacation Playhouse Freddy Rockfeller Episode: "My Lucky Penny"
1970 George M! George M. Cohan Television movie
1971 Ironside Mike Jaeger Episode: "A Killing at the Track"
1972 Night Gallery Andrew MacBane Episode: "There Aren't Any More MacBanes"
1972 Man on a String Joe "Big Joe" Brown Television film
1973 The $10,000 Pyramid Himself / Celebrity Guest Season One: August 13–17, 1973
Peggy Cass vs. Joel Grey
1974 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Narrator / Mr. Trundel (voice) Television film
1974 The Carol Burnett Show Gary Segment: "Carol and Sis"
1976 The Muppet Show Himself (guest) Episode: "Joel Grey"
1981 Paddington Himself Host
1982 Alice Himself 2 episodes
1982 The Yeomen of the Guard Jack Point Television film
1987 Queenie Aaron Diamond 2 episodes
1991 Matlock Tommy DeLuca Episode: "The Critic"
1991 Dallas Adam Episode: "Conundrum"
1992–1993 Brooklyn Bridge Jacob Prossman 2 episodes
1995 The Wizard of Oz in Concert:
Dreams Come True
Narrator / The Wizard / Various Roles Television benefit performance
for the Children's Defense Fund
1995 Star Trek: Voyager Caylem Episode: "Resistance"
1999–2000 The Outer Limits Dr. Neil Seward / Gideon Banks 2 episodes
1999 A Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Past Television film
2001 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Doc 3 episodes
2001 Touched by an Angel Ronald 2 episodes
2001 Further Tales of the City Guido 3 episodes
2003 Oz Lemuel Idzik 6 episodes
2003 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Milton Winters Episode: "Cuba Libre"
2005 Alias Another Mr. Sloane 3 episodes
2005 Crossing Jordan Carl Meisner, Amnesia Victim Episode: "Forget Me Not"
2006 House Dr. Ezra Powell Episode: "Informed Consent"
2007 Brothers & Sisters Dr. Jude Bar-Shalom Episode: "Love Is Difficult"
2008 Phineas and Ferb Beppo (voice) Episode: "The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein/Oil on Candace"
2009 Private Practice Dr. Alexander Ball Episode: "Nothing to Fear"
2009 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Singer Episode: "New History"
2012 Nurse Jackie Dick Bobbitt Episode: "Day of the Iguana"
2013 Warehouse 13 Monty, The Magnificent Episode: "The Sky's the Limit"
2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Hank Kasserman Episode: "Keep Calm and Carry On"
2014 Park Bench with Steve Buscemi Himself Episode: "Benchmark"
2022 The Old Man Morgan Bote 3 episodes

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes/Venue
1951 Borscht Capades Performer Credited as Joel Kaye
Royale Theatre, Broadway
1956 The Littlest Revue Performer Phoenix Theatre, Broadway
1961 Come Blow Your Horn Buddy Baker Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway
1962 Stop the World – I Want to Get Off Littlechap Shubert Theatre, Broadway
1965 Half a Sixpence Arthur Kipps Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway
1966 Cabaret Master of Ceremonies
1968 George M! George M. Cohan Palace Theatre, Broadway
1975 Goodtime Charley Charley
1977 Marco Polo Sings a Solo Stony McBride The Public Theatre, Off-Broadway
1979 The Grand Tour S.L. Jacobowsky Palace Theatre, Broadway
1985 The Normal Heart Ned Weeks The Public Theatre, Off-Broadway
1987 Cabaret Master of Ceremonies Imperial Theatre, Broadway
1991 When We Dead Awaken Performer American Repertory Theatre
1995 The Wizard of Oz Narrator / The Wizard of Oz / Various Roles Lincoln Center
1996 Chicago Amos Hart Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway
1999 Give Me Your Answer, Do! Jack Donovan Roundabout Theatre Company
2003 Wicked The Wizard of Oz George Gershwin Theatre, Broadway
2011 Anything Goes "Moonface" Martin Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway
2011 The Normal Heart Director
John Golden Theatre, Broadway
2016 The Cherry Orchard Firs American Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2018 Fiddler on the Roof (Fidler Afn Dakh) Director; American premiere of the play in Yiddish
National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene

Awards and honors

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1972 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Cabaret Won
1972 British Academy Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles Won
1975 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Goodtime Charley Nominated
1979 The Grand Tour Nominated
1988 Cabaret Nominated
1997 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Chicago Won
2000 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Give Me Your Answer, Do! Nominated
2011 Outstanding Director of a Play The Normal Heart Won
2019 Outstanding Director of a Musical Fiddler on the Roof (Fidler Afn Dakh) Nominated
1972 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Cabaret Won
1985 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Nominated
2012 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Anything Goes Nominated
1972 National Board of Review Awards Best Supporting Actor Cabaret Won
1972 National Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor Won
1993 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Brooklyn Bridge Nominated
1967 Tony Awards Best Featured Actor in a Musical Cabaret Won
1969 Best Leading Actor in a Musical George M! Nominated
1975 Goodtime Charley Nominated
1979 The Grand Tour Nominated
2011 Best Direction of a Play The Normal Heart Nominated
2023 Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award Received

For his continued support of Broadway, Grey was named a Givenik Ambassador.

He was presented with a lifetime achievement award on June 10, 2013, by The National Yiddish Theatre – Folksbiene.

Grey won the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on December 5, 2016, presented by the York Theatre Company in New York City. The theatre said, in part: "we are thrilled to celebrate the extraordinary Joel Grey, whose artistry — for over half a century — has become an indelible part of Broadway history."

Grey was honored as The New Jewish Home's Eight Over Eighty Gala 2015 honoree.

Grey was presented with the Teddy Kollek Award by the World Jewish Congress in November 2019.

See also


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