David Hyde Pierce.Photo: Melanie Dunea
David Hyde Piercehas no plans to reprise Dr. Niles Crane on the newFrasierrevival despite the acclaim he received for his portrayal on the original NBC sitcom.
Pierce, 64, who won four Emmy Awards for his putting his unique and comical spin on the role, explained his reasoning during an interview with theLos Angeles Times, stating he “never really wanted to go back.”
“It’s not like I said, ‘Oh, I don’t ever want to do that again.’ I loved every moment. It was that I wanted to do other things,” said Pierce, who currently stars in Max’sJuliaas Paul Child, Julia Child’s husband.
David Hyde Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth and Kelsey Grammer in NBC’s ‘Frasier.'.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank
Pierce previously discussed his experiences working on the originalFrasierwith PEOPLE in 2022, describing that period of success in 1993 as a “complicated time.”
“We were smack in the middle of the AIDS crisis, and being gay, being out, being not out, were questions that I didn’t have to answer in New York, because in theater, no one cared,” the seasoned stage actor explained. “It took me a while to figure out how to just be me with all this attention and celebrity. I tried to thread that needle for a long time in terms of wanting to live my life and live it openly and not be forced to say anything in particular.”
David Hyde Pierce with longtime husband and partner Brian Hargrove.David Crotty/Getty
Pierce aside, many of the original cast will not return, includingJohn Mahoney, who portrayed Frasier’s father Martin anddiedat the age of 77 in 2018.
However,Bebe Neuwirth, who played Frasier’s ex Dr. Lilith Sternin onCheersandreprised her role several times on the originalFrasier, as well as Peri Gilpin, who portrayed Frasier’s radio show producer, have already popped up as guest stars this season.
Kelsey Grammer and Bebe Neuwirth in the Paramount+ revival of ‘Frasier.'.Chris Haston/Paramount+
Chris Haston/Paramount+
Lilith, for her part, reconnected with Frasier for their son Freddy’s birthday party, which made fora tense yet comical reunionthat reminded viewers that whenever Neuwirth and Grammer are onscreen together, laugher follows.
“It’s always a pleasure and a great time visiting Lilith and Frasier," Neuwirth exclusively told PEOPLE of the reunion in November. “So fun to be back in that wonderful character.”
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Frasierairs Thursdays on Paramount+.
source: people.com
