Heartbreaking Facts About Kelsey Grammer

Kelsey Grammer’s early years were unstable due to his parents’ divorce when he was two. He and his sister Karen were raised by their mother and grandfather, Gordon Cranmer. They developed a close-knit relationship, making it all the more painful when Gordon succumbed to cancer when Grammer was 12. Reflecting on his grandfather, Grammer noted in an NBC News interview, “He put the foundation of what it was to be a man.”

Decades later, Grammer honored his late grandfather onscreen by playing a WWII-era soldier in the film “Murder Company.” He explained in an interview with Yahoo! Canada, “My granddad was in World War II and served, and he raised me. I have a real energetic connection to him that carries on to this day.”

In April 1968, 13-year-old Kelsey Grammer faced another devastating loss. His father, Allen Grammer, had remarried and was living in St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. One night, Allen went to investigate what he believed was a trespasser outside his home. He was shot by a local taxi driver, Arthur Bevan Niles, who had covered his cab with anti-white statements. “A man who was proven to be, at least in court, of questionable sanity,” is how Grammer described Niles in an appearance on E! series “Celebrity Profile.” Niles lured Allen out of his home to murder him. This tragedy deeply impacted the young Grammer.

Kelsey Grammer’s talent for acting emerged during his teenage years. After graduating from high school, he was accepted into the Juilliard School in New York City on a scholarship. However, he couldn’t afford living in New York and went through a period of homelessness. At times, he slept in Central Park using newspapers for warmth. During an interview with “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” he emphasized that he never felt in danger, likening the experience to camping. Despite these hardships, Grammer maintained faith in his future success, telling Us Weekly in 1997, “I had complete trust that I was going to make it.”

Kelsey Grammer’s time at Juilliard was cut short when he was expelled due to a “lack of focus.” A major contributing factor was the murder of his sister, Karen. At 18, Karen was abducted, raped, and murdered by three men after her shift at a Colorado Springs restaurant. Grammer described this as “the worst part of my life” in an interview with People. Over the years, he has felt a deep guilt over her death, evident in his continuous effort to block the parole of her murderer, Freddie Glenn. “It’s hard to explain. It’s not rational,” Grammer told Vanity Fair. “But it happens anyway.”

The tragedy of losing his sister was not the only blow Kelsey Grammer suffered concerning his siblings. In June 1980, his half-brothers Billy and Stephen were scuba diving off the coast of St. Thomas. Billy ascended too quickly while searching for his brother and died from an embolism, while Stephen’s body was never recovered. Their mother believed Stephen had been attacked by sharks. Grammer spoke about his ongoing pain, telling inews.co.uk, “It’s a pain that you can always stumble into again.” Despite these tragedies, he recognized them as part of life’s journey.

Grammer began drinking at age nine and eventually became known for his substance abuse as his fame rose. Arrests for DUI and cocaine possession brought Grammer into tabloid focus in 1987 and 1988. In 1990, he was sentenced to jail for failing to comply with the conditions of his previous sentences. His “Cheers” co-star Ted Danson admitted that an intervention staged by the cast had limited success, but Grammer’s jail time proved more effective. Grammer related his substance abuse to his sister’s murder, expressing in Vanity Fair that he “could not forgive” himself.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

In 1992, Grammer married Leigh-Anne Csuhany, a former exotic dancer. The marriage was tumultuous and within a year, he sought an annulment. During their split, Csuhany was three months pregnant. Grammer was granted a restraining order, and shortly after, Csuhany attempted suicide, subsequently terminating the pregnancy. In his memoir, Grammer described her abusive behavior, stating Csuhany would spit, punch, and threaten to kill him or herself. Despite her opposition, the annulment was eventually granted, and Grammer had to pay $7,500 in monthly spousal support.

In the fall of 1996, Grammer’s substance abuse peaked, culminating in a car accident while he was driving a brand-new Dodge Viper gifted by NBC. Surviving with minor injuries, he was later checked into the Betty Ford Center, putting “Frasier” on hiatus. Charges for a DUI were dropped due to lack of evidence. In rehab, he faced the guilt over his sister’s murder, which had fueled his substance abuse. He shared with Katie Couric that he needed to save himself before he could help others.