Joel Grey

Infobox actor


imagesize = 180px
caption = the 1993 Emmy Awards
birthname = Joel David Katz
birthdate = birth date and age|1932|4|11
birthplace = Cleveland, Ohio, USA
spouse = Jo Wilder (1958-1982)
yearsactive = 1951-present
website =
academyawards = Best Supporting Actor
1972 Cabaret
tonyawards = Featured Actor in a Musical
1967 "Cabaret"
baftaawards = Most Promising Newcomer
1972 "Cabaret"
goldenglobeawards = Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
1972 "Cabaret"

Joel Grey (born April 11, 1932) is a Tony-, Golden Globe-, BAFTA-, & Academy Award-winning American stage and screen actor known best for his role as the Emcee in both the stage and film adaptation of the Kander & Ebb musical "Cabaret".

Biography

Grey was born Joel David Katz in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Grace and Mickey Katz, who was an actor, clarinetist, comedian and director. [cite web | title=Joel Grey Biography | url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/58/Joel-Grey.html | work=filmreference | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-07-06] He graduated from Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, California in 1950.

Career

Grey originated the role of the Master of Ceremonies in the Broadway musical "Cabaret" in 1966 for which he won the Tony Award. Additional Broadway credits include "Come Blow Your Horn" (1961), "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off" (1962), "Half a Sixpence" (1965), "Goodtime Charley" (1975), "The Grand Tour" (1979), "Chicago" (1996), and "Wicked" (2003). In 1995, he performed in "" a musical performance of the popular story at Lincoln Center to benefit the Children's Defense Fund. The performance was originally broadcast on Turner Network Television (TNT), and issued on CD and video in 1996.

Grey won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1972 for his performance as the Master of Ceremonies in the film version of "Cabaret". 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." Grey beat front-runner Al Pacino for Best Supporting Actor while Fosse beat Francis Ford Coppola for Best Director.

Grey is one of only nine [ [http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/archive/dyk/index.html "Facts about the Tony Awards"] . TonyAwards.com.] people who have won both a Tony Award and an Academy Award for the same role. He performed at The Muny in St. Louis, Missouri many times 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).

Grey appeared frequently as a panelist on the television game show "What's My Line?" during its 1968 revival. He was the guest star for the third episode of "The Muppet Show" in its first season, singing "Razzle Dazzle", which is from "Chicago" and "Willkommen", which is from "Cabaret". In 1982 Grey was the on-camera host and narrator for the PBS special, "To Hear". He also played an elderly Korean martial arts master in the movie "" (1985). In 1991, he played an out of this world man, Adam, on the series finale of "Dallas". In 1996, he made a guest appearance on as an aging rebel seeking to free his (deceased) wife from prison.

In 2000, Grey played Oldrich Novy in the film "Dancer in the Dark" and had recurring television roles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (as Doc, 2001), "Oz" (as Lemuel Idzik, 2003) and "Alias" (as "Another Mr. Sloane," 2005). He played the role of a demon in the final episode of "Dallas" and was a wealthy, paroled ex-convict on "" (episode, "Cuba Libre"). He also appeared on the shows "House" and "Brothers & Sisters", the latter on which he played the roles of Sarah and Joe's marriage counselor.

Personal life

Grey is the father of actress Jennifer Grey, the star of "Dirty Dancing", and James, a chef. In 1958 he married Jo Wilder. They divorced in 1982.

Grey is also a photographer. His first book of photographs, "Pictures I Had to Take", was published in 2003; its follow-up, "Looking Hard at Unexpected Things", appeared in the Fall of 2006. [ [http://www.joelgreyphotographer.com/"Joel Grey Looking Hard at Unexamined Things"] . Joel Grey Photographer.]

Work

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References

External links

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* [http://www.americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/detail/joel_grey Joel Grey] - "Downstage Center" interview at American Theatre Wing.org
* [http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/interactive/video/index.html#g TonyAwards.com Interview with Joel Grey]

Persondata
NAME= Grey, Joel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Katz, Joel
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor
DATE OF BIRTH=April 5, 1932
PLACE OF BIRTH=Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=