Highlights
- Frasier remains a beloved show thanks to Kelsey Grammer and the cast.
- David Hyde Pierce, who played Niles Crane, has accumulated over $40 million in royalties from re-runs of Frasier since 2004.
- The Frasier reboot on Paramount+ has been successful despite Hyde Pierce refusing to return.
The popular TV series Frasier followed the life of psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane as he navigated life and relationships in Seattle, Washington. The series ran for eleven seasons on NBC from 1993-2004. It was a spin-off on the Frasier character from the 1980s series Cheers, in which actor Kelsey Grammar starred as Frasier.
On October 12, 2023, the series was revived by Paramount+, with Grammer returning to the long-awaited series as Frasier. This time around, however, many of the old cast members did not return and were replaced with new characters. Frasier Crane’s brother, Niles Crane, played by David Hyde Pierce, was notably absent. Audiences have since expressed their dismay at Hyde’s absence on the show, as his character has always been popular. When Frasier originally aired, and even after it, Pierce was and has been almost on equal par with the show’s star, Grammer, in terms of fame and wealth.
David Hyde Pierce Frasier Royalties Have Rivaled That Of Kelsey Grammer’s
Frasier remains a beloved show several years after its original run and end date, thanks partly to its intelligent writing, exemplary comedic timing, and enthralling performances by Kelsey Grammer and the rest of its cast. Frasier was a hit with audiences and critics alike, accumulating millions of viewers per episode and many awards, including 37 Primetime Emmy Awards and 2 Golden Globe Awards, to name a few.
The series has been replayed on many networks throughout its years off the air, which has, in turn, made the show’s remaining stars very wealthy.
For example, David Hyde Pierce, who played Frasier’s eccentric brother, Niles Crane, has accumulated over $40 million in royalties from re-runs of the show since 2004.
The Cast Of Frasier Ranked By Net Worth
Which member of the Frasier cast is the richest today?
As reported by Celebrity Net Worth, as of November 2023, Pierce is worth an estimated $40 million, and that staggering price is only expected to rise in subsequent years. Meanwhile, according to an October report in Parade magazine, Hyde’s Frasier co-star Kelsey Grammer’s net worth is an eye-watering $50 million.
But even before the show was relegated to re-runs, the series cast had already made a lot of money.
According to a November 2023 report in Celebrity Net Worth, David Hyde Pierce made roughly $1 million per episode during Frasier’s last two seasons, while the show’s title star made only a little more than that. According to Parade magazine, Grammer made roughly $1.6 million an episode during the series’ last two seasons.
According to several prominent lists, like Cosmopolitan magazine, as of 2023 Kelsey Grammer is TV’s highest-paid actor of all time, and David Hyde Pierce comes in close at 9th place.
Was A Salary Dispute The Reason Behind David Hyde Pierce’s Decision Not To Return To The Frasier Reboot?
David Hyde Pierce not only enjoyed a massive paycheck before and after Frasier, popularity among audiences, and several acting awards for his role as Niles Crane but he’s also relished an acting career outside the sitcom, such as on Broadway, where he has received many Tony awards for his roles in acclaimed plays such as Curtians.
As Pierce has remained a highly sought-after actor, many fans have wondered if salary negotiations were behind his reason for not returning to Frasier’s rebooted series on Paramount+ and not because the creators didn’t want him back.
The Paramount+ PR Team Cut Kelsey Grammer’s Interview Short Despite His Willingness To Discuss A Controversial Topic
Kelsey Grammer didn’t back down when a controversial topic was brought up during his BBC interview.
According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, when asked by The Los Angeles Times why he decided not to reprise his role as Niles Crane, David Hyde Pierce stated candidly:
I 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.
The actor added that when he was first seriously approached about the new series, he had just started working on another show called Julia TV while also working on two separate musicals.
He added:
I just thought, ‘I don’t want to be committed to a show and not be able to do stuff like that. I also thought, ‘They don’t actually need me. Frasier has moved on to a new world. They have new characters. And I think I’m right. It’s doing great. And the new people they have are great.’
In an interview with People Magazine, Kelsey Grammer elaborated further on why Pierce was not returning to Frasier and his thoughts:
David basically decided he wasn’t really interested in repeating the performance of Niles. That’s not a bad thing. In a very funny way, it just took us to a new place, which was what we originally wanted to do anyway, which was a Frasier third act. It’s an entirely new life for him. The new show will honor the characters who aren’t there. We’ll certainly be responsive about the fact that there was a brother and such…but the new world for Frasier is one of new friendships — and some new twists and turns…
How Much Money Has Kelsy Grammer Made From The Frasier Reboot?
While David Hyde Pierce is not part of the show that made him a household name, Kelsy Grammer has gladly continued to carry on the series for old and new fans.
While it has not been reported how much he’s being paid for the series, according to The Wrap, the series has attracted an impressive number of viewers.
Kelsey Grammer’s Addiction Issues May Have Canceled Frasier Had It Not Been For David Hyde Pierce
Horrible family tragedies sparked Kelsey Grammar’s addiction issues that caused major drama on the set of Frasier.
According to The Wrap, the original two episodes of the Frasier reboot earned an impressive 2.23 million viewers during its premiere on the CBS network. The show’s official station, Paramount+, also reported that Frasier had become the network’s number-one original comedy series since its premiere. Not only has the Frasier reboot become a success in Western countries, but Paramount+ has stated that it’s also the most-watched show internationally.
Given the show’s trajectory, it’s clear that Grammer and his fellow cast members also stand to profit significantly from the show during and after its run.
Source: NewsFinale
