'Frasier' star David Hyde Pierce speaks at the Guthrie

David Hyde Pierce
Actor David Hyde Pierce returned to the Guthrie Theater in March for a conversation with Director Joe Dowling. Pierce was a member of the Guthrie Theater acting company from 1983 to 1986.
Joan Marcus Photo

David Hyde Pierce is probably best known for playing psychiatrist Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom, "Frasier." The show was a big hit for the network, running for 11 seasons, and David Hyde Pierce won multiple Emmy awards for the role.

Before working in TV, David Hyde Pierce acted on stage in several productions on- and off-Broadway. He won a Tony Award for his role in the musical comedy "Curtains", and was an original member of the cast of "Spamalot."

Early in his stage career, David Hyde Pierce appeared in a number of plays right here in Minnesota at the Guthrie Theater. Some of those included "The Seagull", "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "Execution of Justice."

Pierce recently returned to the Guthrie Theater for a chat with the theater's director Joe Dowling. They discussed David Hyde Pierce's stage career, his time at the Guthrie, and starring in "Frasier."