Joel Grey Biography (1932-)

Original name, Joel Katz; born April 11, 1932, in Cleveland, OH; son of Mickey (a comedian, actor, and director) and Grace Katz; married Jo Wilder (an actress), June 29, 1958 (divorced, 1982); children: Jennifer (an actress), James. Addresses: Agent: Nevin Dolcefino, Innovative Artists, 1505 10th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, dancer, singer
Birth Details: April 11, 1932; Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Stage Appearances
Pud, On Borrowed Time, Cleveland Playhouse, Cleveland, OH, 1941
Borscht Capades (revue), 1948, then Royale Theatre, New York City,1951
The Littlest Revue, Phoenix Repertory Theatre, New York City, 1956
Buddy Baker, Come Blow Your Horn, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City, 1961
Littlechap, Stop the World--I Want to Get Off, Ambassador Theatre,New York City, 1963-1964
Arthur Kipps, Half a Sixpence (musical), Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1965
Harry, Noon and Night, American Place Theatre, New York City, 1965
Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical), Broadhurst Theatre, 1966-1967
George M. Cohan (title role), George M! (musical), Palace Theatre,New York City, 1969, then Curran Theatre, San Francisco, CA, 1969
1776, Theatre at Maddox Hall, Atlanta, GA, 1972
Charley, Goodtime Charley (musical), Palace Theatre, 1975
The Joel Grey Show, Nanuet, NY, 1975
Stony McBride, Marco Polo Sings a Solo, New York Shakespeare Festival, Estelle R. Newman Theatre, Public Theatre, New York City, 1977
Title role, Platonov, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown,MA, 1977
S. L. Jacobowsky, The Grand Tour (musical), Palace Theatre, 1979
Olim, Silverlake, New York City Opera, New York City, 1980
Night of 100 Stars, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1982
Pal Joey, 1983
Ned Weeks, The Normal Heart, New York Shakespeare Festival, LuEsther Hall, Public Theatre, New York City, 1985
Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical), Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1987-1988, then Minskoff Theatre, New York City, 1988
Pal Joey, 1988-1989
Night of 100 Stars III, Radio City Music Hall, 1990
When We Dead Awaken, American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, MA, 1991
Title role, Herringbone, Hartford Stage Company, Hartford, CT, 1992-1993
Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical), Broadway production, c. 1995, then London, 1998
Amos Hart, Chicago (musical), City Center Theatre, New York City,then Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York City, 1996
Jack Donovan, Give Me Your Answer, Do!, Roundabout Theatre Company, Gramercy Theatre, New York City, 1999-2000
The wizard, Wicked, Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 2003
Appeared in A Fool and Her Fortune, New York Stage and Film Theatre, New York City; also appeared in productions of Finian's Rainbow (musical), Greenwich Village Follies, Joy Ride, Mardi Gras, Tom Sawyer, and West Side Story (musical).
Major Tours
Come Blow Your Horn, U.S. cities, 1961
Littlechap, Stop the World--I Want to Get Off, U.S. cities, 1963-1964
Half a Sixpence, U.S. cities, 1965
Harry, Noon and Night, U.S. cities, 1965
George M! (musical), U.S. cities, 1969
Variety Revue, U.S. cities, 1974
Marco Polo Sings a Solo, U.S. cities, 1977
Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical), U.S. cities, 1987
Toured U.S. cities in a solo show, 2000.
Film Appearances
Bender, About Face, Warner Bros., 1952
Alex Nash, Calypso Heat Wave, Columbia, 1957
Beagle, Come September, Universal, 1961
Master of ceremonies, Cabaret (musical; also known as Cabaret:Goodbye Berlin), Allied Artists, 1972
Franklin Wills, Man on a Swing, Paramount, 1974
Nate Salisbury, Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (also known as Buffalo Bill and the Indians), United Artists, 1976
Lowenstein, The Seven Per Cent Solution, Universal, 1976
Chiun, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (also known as Remo:Unarmed and Dangerous), Orion, 1985
Burgel, Kafka, Renn Productions, 1991
Himself, The Player, Fine Line, 1992
Willy Stone, The Music of Chance, IRS Releasing, 1993
Jimmie, Venus Rising, IRS Releasing, 1995
Josef Goebbels, The Empty Mirror, Lions Gate Films, 1996
Simon, My Friend Joe (also known as Mein Freund Joe), Gemini Films, 1996
Oldrich Novy, Dancer in the Dark (musical), Fine Line, 2000
Amos Babcock Bellamy, The Fantasticks (musical), United Artists, 2000
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Offline Releasing, 2001
Himself, The Making and Meaning of "We Are Family" (documentary; also known as We Are Family), 2002
Television Appearances
Series
Host, Paddington Bear, 1981
Lemuel Idzik, Oz, HBO, 2003
Miniseries
Aaron Diamond, Queenie, ABC, 1987
Guido, Further Tales of the City (also known as Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City), Showtime, 2001
Movies
Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, Little Women, NBC, 1958
Johnny Hyde, Marilyn and Me, ABC, 1991
Flea, The Dangerous, HBO, 1995

The ghost of Christmas past, A Christmas Carol, TNT, 1999
Dr. Mensley, "Reaching Normal," On the Edge, Showtime, 2001
Columbo: The Man Who Murdered Himself, 2002
Specials
Jack, Jack and the Beanstalk, ABC, 1970
George M. Cohan (title role), George M!, NBC, 1970
The Magical Music of Burt Bacharach, syndicated, 1972
Voice of Joshua Trundle (the narrator), 'Twas the Night before Christmas, 1974
Jubilee! (also known as The Bell Telephone Jubilee), NBC, 1976
Merry Christmas ... with Love, Julie, syndicated, 1979
Night of 100 Stars, ABC, 1982
Jack Point, The Yeomen of the Guard (also known as The Merrymanand His Maid), 1984
The Kraft All-Star Salute to Ford's Theatre, CBS, 1986
Host, Christmas at Radio City Music Hall, HBO, 1986
Liberty Weekend, ABC, 1986
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1987
The 1990 King Orange Jamboree Parade, NBC, 1990
Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990
A Capitol Fourth, PBS, 1991
Street Scenes: New York on Film, AMC, 1992
In a New Light, ABC, 1992
Michael, Just Deserts, ABC, 1992
Host, A Capitol Fourth, PBS, 1994
The Wizard of Oz (narrator), The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams ComeTrue (also known as The Wizard of Oz in Concert), TNT, 1995
The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala: An American Journey, CBS, 1997
The Music of Kander and Ebb: Razzle Dazzle, PBS, 1997
Presenter, Broadway '97: Launching the Tonys, PBS, 1997
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1998
Interviewee, NYTV: By the People Who Made It, PBS, 1998
Interviewee, Julie Newmar: The Cat's Meow, Arts and Entertainment,2000
Interviewee, Burt Bacharach, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Liza Minnelli: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2002
Broadway's Lost Treasures, PBS, 2003
Host of Live from Wolf Trap, PBS.
Episodic
The Colgate Comedy Hour, NBC, 1950
"Forty Weeks of Uncle Tom," Kraft Television Theatre, 1954
"Jack and the Beanstalk," Producers Showcase, NBC, 1956
"Vallee's Protege," December Bride, 1957
Billy the Kid, "Full House," Maverick, ABC, 1959
Runt Bowles, "The Masquerade," Bronco, ABC, 1960
Owny O'Reilly, "The Salvation of Owny O'Reilly," Lawman, 1960
Owny O'Reilly, "The Return of Owny O'Reilly," Lawman, 1960
Willy, "The Clown," Surfside 6, 1960
Joey Kellogg, "Open and Close in One," 77 Sunset Strip, 1961
Owny O'Reilly, "Owny O'Reilly, Esq.," Lawman, 1961
Herbie, "Nanette's Teenage Suitor," The Nanette Fabray Show, 1961
Guest panelist, What's My Line?, syndicated, 1967
Guest, The Ed Sullivan Show, 1967, 1968
Mystery guest, What's My Line?, syndicated, 1968
Guest, Kraft Music Hall, 1969, 1970
Andrew MacBane, "There Aren't Any More McBanes," Night Gallery (also known as Rod Serling's Night Gallery), NBC, 1972
Guest, The Julie Andrews Hour, ABC, 1972
Guest, The Carol Burnett Show, CBS, 1972, 1974
Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1974, 1978
Guest, Front Page Challenge, 1975
Himself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1976
Evening at Pops, PBS, 1979
Himself, "Joel Grey Saves the Day," Alice, CBS, 1982
Himself, "Alice at the Palace," Alice, CBS, 1982
Tommy DeLuca, "The Critic," Matlock, NBC, 1991
Adam the Devil, "The Conundrum," Dallas, CBS, 1991
Jacob Prossman, "The Last Immigrant," Brooklyn Bridge, CBS, 1992
Jacob Prossman, "In a Family Way," Brooklyn Bridge, CBS, 1993
Caylem, "Resistance," Star Trek: Voyager, UPN, 1995
Himself, "Twins," It's Like, You Know..., ABC, 1999
Dr. Neil Stewart, "Essence of Life," The Outer Limits, Showtime and syndicated, 1999
Gideon, "Simon Says," The Outer Limits, Showtime and syndicated, 2000
Ronald, "The Lord Moves in Mysterious Ways," Touched by an Angel,CBS, 2001
Ronald, "Band of Angels," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2001
Doc, "Forever," Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB, 2001
Doc, "The Weight of the World," Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB,2001
Doc, "The Gift," Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB, 2001
Milton Winters, Sr., "Cuba Libre," Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NBC, 2003
Gunman, "Sonata de Oz," Oz, HBO, 2003
Also appeared in The Engelbert Humperdinck Show, ABC; Ironside, NBC; and This Is Tom Jones, ABC.
Awards Presentations
Presenter, The 44th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1972
The 45th Annual Academy Awards, NBC, 1973
The 42nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1988
The 45th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1991
Danny Kaye's International Children's Awards for UNICEF, The Disney Channel, 1992
The 70th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1998
The 75th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2003
Pilots
Big Joe Brown, Man on a String, ABC, 1972
Guest, Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, CBS, 1973
111 Gramercy Park, ABC, 2003
RECORDINGS
Audio Books
Narrator (with others), The Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, New Millennium Audio, 2002
Narrator (with others), The Poetry of Robert Frost, New MillenniumAudio, 2002
Narrator (with others), The Poetry of Walt Whitman, New MillenniumAudio, 2002
Albums
Silverlake (cast recording), c. 1980
Chicago: The Musical (cast recording), 1997
Videos
Choreography: Creating Vincent Paterson's Dance Sequences, New Line Home Video, 2000
Interviewee, Let Freedom Sing? The Story of "Yankee Doodle Dandy,"Warner Home Video, 2003
WRITINGS
Film Music
Composer, About Face, Warner Bros., 1952
Other
Author of a book, Pictures I Had to Take, PowerHouse Books.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

New York Post, November 12, 1996
Variety, September 29, 1997, p. S57

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