---
name: "David Alan Grier"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-alan-grier"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 June 1956"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-20T06:44:49.438268+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Alan Grier

Actor. Born 30 June 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 June 1956, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- **Active:** 1984–1992
- **Also known as:**  David Alan Greir , David Allan Grier, D.A.G., DAG
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 76 (1), 1990s 85 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Alan_Grier, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q562596, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004979/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/58563

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*A Soldier's Story*](https://film.one/film/a-soldiers-story.md) (76)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

David Alan Grier is an American actor and comedian. He was born on 30 June 1956 in Detroit, Michigan. He received an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and began his career on Broadway, playing Jackie Robinson in the musical *The First* (1981), for which he received a Tony Award nomination.

Grier appeared in the film *Streamers* (1983) and played Corporal Cobb in *A Soldier's Story* (1984). He is known for his work as a cast member on the sketch comedy series *In Living Color* (1990–1994) and for roles in films including *Jumanji* (1995) and *The Big Sick* (2017). In 2021 he won a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway revival of *A Soldier's Play*.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *The Player* (1992), Fi1m 85, as David Alan Grier — [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md)
- *A Soldier's Story* (1984), Fi1m 76, as Corporal Cobb — [page](https://film.one/film/a-soldiers-story.md)

## Complete filmography (121)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *St. Denis Medical* (2024), series, as Ron Leonard
- *The American Society of Magical Negroes* (2024), as Roger
- *Elsbeth* (2024), series, as Arthur Greene Jr.
- *The Color Purple* (2023), as Reverend Avery
- *Candy Cane Lane* (2023), as Santa Claus
- *They Cloned Tyrone* (2023), as The Preacher
- *Poker Face* (2023), series, as Otto — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md)
- *Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration* (2022), as Cogsworth
- *The Patient* (2022), series, as Charlie Addison
- *Joe Pickett* (2021), series, as Vern Dunnegan
- *Clifford the Big Red Dog* (2021), as Packard
- *Show of Titles* (2021), as "Guys and Dolls" Performer
- *Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!* (2021), series, Actor
- *A Soldier's Play* (2021), as Sergeant Vernon C. Waters
- *Coffee & Kareem* (2020), as Captain Hill
- *A Black Lady Sketch Show* (2019), series, as Preacher
- *Sprinter* (2019), as Coach
- *Native Son* (2019), as Marty
- *The Cool Kids* (2018), series, as Hank
- *Arizona* (2018), as Coburn
- *The Resident* (2018), series, as Lamar Broome
- *A Christmas Story Live!* (2017), as Santa Claus
- *The Big Sick* (2017), as Andy Dodd
- *A Series of Unfortunate Events* (2017), series, as Hal
- *Jingle Ballin'* (2016), as Colin
- *The Wiz Live!* (2015), as The Cowardly Lion
- *The Carmichael Show* (2015), series, as Joe Carmichael
- *An En Vogue Christmas* (2014), as Marty
- *Bad Teacher* (2014), series, as Carl Gaines
- *The Watsons Go to Birmingham* (2013), as Mr. Robert
- *Peeples* (2013), as Virgil Peeples
- *Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja* (2012), series, as Rudd Rhymez (voice)
- *The Soul Man* (2012), series, as Jesse
- *Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil* (2011), as Moss the Troll (voice)
- *Happy Endings* (2011), series, as Terry
- *Something Like A Business* (2010), as 3D
- *Astro Boy* (2009), as Mr. Squirt / Math Cowboy / Boxer Robot (voice)
- *Dance Flick* (2009), as Sugar Bear
- *Black to the Future* (2009), series, Actor
- *Chocolate News* (2008), series, as Producer
- *An American Carol* (2008), as Rastus Malone
- *Gym Teacher: The Movie* (2008), as Shelly Bragg
- *The Poker House* (2008), as Stymie · Writer, Co-Producer
- *Kissing Cousins* (2008), as The Griller
- *The Hustle* (2008), as Rev. Isaac Montgomery Paid
- *Thank God You're Here* (2007), series, Producer
- *Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-roc's Street* (2006), as Principal Eyeverson/The Man Upstairs (voice)
- *Little Man* (2006), as Jimmy
- *Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness* (2006), as Principal Eyeverson (voice)
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Professor Bunsen Jude
- *Bewitched* (2005), as Jim Fields
- *The Muppets' Wizard of Oz* (2005), as Uncle Henry
- *Unscripted* (2005), series, as David Alan Grier
- *The Woodsman* (2004), as Bob
- *Baadasssss!* (2004), as Clyde Houston
- *David Alan Grier: The Book of David - The Cult Figure's Manifesto* (2003), Writer
- *Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie* (2003), as Limo Driver
- *Tiptoes* (2002), as Jerry Robin Jr.
- *Life with Bonnie* (2002), series, as David Bellows
- *King of Texas* (2002), as Rip
- *The Proud Family* (2001), series, as Reuben (voice)
- *Samurai Jack* (2001), series, as Da Samurai
- *My Wife and Kids* (2001), series, Actor
- *15 Minutes* (2001), as Mugger
- *Gary & Mike* (2001), series, as Thaddeus (voice)
- *DAG* (2000), series, as Jerome Daggett
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Laurence Williams
- *Damned If You Do* (2000), as The Devil
- *Buzz Lightyear of Star Command* (2000), series, as Tubunch (voice)
- *The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle* (2000), as Measures
- *Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby* (2000), as Mr. Butz
- *Angels in the Infield* (2000), as Bob Bugler
- *Return to Me* (2000), as Charlie Johnson
- *East of A* (2000), as Brother James
- *3 Strikes* (2000), as Detective Jenkins
- *Stuart Little* (1999), as Red (voice)
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Jeremy Swift
- *The '60s* (1999), as Fred Hampton
- *The '60s* (1999), series, as Fred Hampton
- *A Saintly Switch* (1999), as Dan Anderson
- *Hercules* (1998), series, as Memnon (voice)
- *Damon* (1998), series, as Bernard Thomas
- *Premium Blend* (1997), series, Actor
- *Top of the World* (1997), as Detective Augustus
- *McHale's Navy* (1997), as Ensign Charles Parker
- *Kenan & Kel* (1996), series, as David Alan Grier
- *Jumanji* (1995), as Bentley
- *Pinky and the Brain* (1995), series, as Marlon (voice)
- *The Preston Episodes* (1995), series, as David Preston · Executive Producer
- *Tales from the Hood* (1995), as Carl Johnson (segment "Boys Do Get Bruised")
- *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as Bongo (voice), Dudley (voice), King Maynard (voice)
- *Goldilocks and the Three Bears* (1995), as Spike
- *Blankman* (1994), as Kevin Walker
- *In the Army Now* (1994), as Fred Ostroff
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Cinema Audience (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *Martin* (1992), series, as Rev. Leon Lonnie Love
- *Boomerang* (1992), as Gerard Jackson
- *HBO First Look* (1992), series, Actor
- *The Player* (1992), as David Alan Grier — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md)
- *Almost an Angel* (1990), as Det. Bill
- *Dream On* (1990), series, as Marshall
- *Loose Cannons* (1990), as Drummond
- *Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4* (1989), Actor
- *Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3* (1989), Actor
- *I'm Gonna Git You Sucka* (1988), as Newsman
- *Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2* (1988), Actor
- *Me and Him* (1988), as Peter Conklin
- *Off Limits* (1988), as Rogers
- *Tanner '88* (1988), series, as Secret Serviceman
- *Tour of Duty* (1987), series, as Harold
- *A Different World* (1987), series, as Professor Byron Walcott
- *Amazon Women on the Moon* (1987), as Don Simmons (segment "Blacks Without Soul") / Don Simmons (segment "Don 'No Soul' Simmons")
- *Down and Out in Beverly Hills* (1987), series, Actor
- *From the Hip* (1987), as Steve Hadley
- *ALF* (1986), series, as FBI #1
- *All Is Forgiven* (1986), series, as Oliver Royce
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Desk Sergeant
- *Beer* (1985), as Elliott Morrison
- *A Soldier's Story* (1984), as Corporal Cobb — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/a-soldiers-story.md)
- *Streamers* (1983), as Roger
- *Baby, You're a Star*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![David Alan Grier](https://film.one/media/person/329716/gallery-f5cf52f84563.jpg) David Alan Grier — The Tony Awards, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/David_alan_grier_2021_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Alan Grier](https://film.one/media/person/329716/gallery-7418d4b81839.jpg) David Alan Grier — Image via TMDB
- ![David Alan Grier](https://film.one/media/person/329716/gallery-f1624f3399de.jpg) David Alan Grier — Image via TMDB
- ![David Alan Grier](https://film.one/media/person/329716/gallery-33f30256b49c.jpg) David Alan Grier — Image via TMDB
- ![David Alan Grier](https://film.one/media/person/329716/gallery-b30e64a7e74c.jpg) David Alan Grier — Image via TMDB
- ![David Alan Grier](https://film.one/media/person/329716/gallery-2b6336a09801.jpg) David Alan Grier — Image via TMDB
- ![David Alan Grier](https://film.one/media/person/329716/gallery-e00966e4f675.jpg) David Alan Grier — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 2010: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated), for *Race*
- Theatre World Award 1982: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-alan-grier