David Alan Grier is one of those perpetual comedic figures who has been in the business for a long time but doesn’t get anywhere near the credit he should. From his days on In Living Color to his evolution into the cantankerous Black fatherly archetype as the dad in The Carmichael Show, David Alan Grier has had a career spanning more than five decades.
Today, we’ll dive into David Alan Grier’s TV and filmography repertoire while even briefly mentioning his newest film, The American Society of Magical Negroes, a film that is well in line with Grier’s comedic career, themes, and sensibilities.
Grier began his career by portraying Jackie Robinson in the 1981 Broadway production The First, for which he was nominated at the 36th Tony Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Next year, in 1982, he played James “Thunder” Early in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, after which he portrayed Roger in 1983’s Streamers, a role for which he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.
From there, David Alan Grier has been nothing short of successful in his career that spans theater, television, and film. His influence and impact, particularly in comedy and theater, earned him a respected place in the entertainment industry. Here are six roles that prove David Alan Grier is a comedic genius:
In Living Color: Multiple Roles
In Living Color was an American sketch comedy television series that originally ran on Fox from 1990 to 1994. Its title was inspired by the NBC announcement of broadcasts being presented “in living color” during the 1960s, prior to mainstream color television. It also referred to the ethnicity of its cast, which was predominantly African American, unlike most sketch comedy shows at the time (including Saturday Night Live), whose casts were mostly white. In fact, out of four players who featured during In Living Color‘s entire run, only Jim Carrey was white.
Regardless, David Alan Grier was a rather versatile cast member on the show, portraying several different recurring characters, including queer film critic Antoine Merriweather, aging blues musician Calhoun Tubbs, excitable shop teacher Al MacAfee, cantankerous old Mr. Brooks, and incarcerated weirdo Tiny.
Boomerang: Gerard Jackson
In the 1992 rom-com movie Boomerang, David Alan Grier plays the role of Gerard, a close friend of the protagonist Marcus Graham, portrayed by Eddie Murphy. The movie follows the story of a successful, womanizing marketing executive who eventually meets his match.
Gerard is actually the polar opposite of his romantically mercurial friend. He’s not only shy, but he’s also not particularly smooth with the ladies and serves as a comedic foil to Murphy’s cool playboy persona. Grier’s character adds a layer of humor and relatability to the movie, as he often finds himself in awkward social situations, particularly when it comes to dating.
Martin: Reverend Leon Lonnie Love
We already discussed how Martin and Gina set the gold standard for realistic couples in the TV landscape, but we didn’t really mention any of the recurring minor characters in the show. One of the greats was Reverend Leon Lonnie Love, portrayed by David Alan Grier.
Reverend Leon Lonnie Love was a charismatic, humorous, and somewhat shady televangelist. His appearances were marked by a mix of humor and satire, often poking fun at the extravagances and controversies surrounding some televangelists of the time.
Grier’s appearances on Martin were quite notable for his comedic timing, as well as the character’s larger-than-life personality.
Life with Bonnie: David Bellows
Life with Bonnie was an ABC television sitcom that originally aired between 2002 and 2004. It outlines the life of Bonnie Malloy, who juggled her personal life and her job as a daytime TV talk show host. David Alan Grier played David Bellows, who was the producer of Bonnie’s morning talk show, Morning Chicago.
Grier’s character is integral to Living with Bonnie, and he’s often seen managing the behind-the-scenes chaos of running a live local TV program. The show was known for its semi-improvisational format, which allowed actors, such as Grier, to show off their improvisational comedy skills. This was particularly true when it came to the character of David Bellows, which allowed Grier to showcase his ability to blend humor with a sense of authority expected of a TV producer.
The Carmichael Show: Joe Carmichael
The Carmichael Show was an American sitcom that aired on syndication from 2015 to 2017, after which it was canceled by NBC. The series followed a fictional version of comedian Jerrod Carmichael’s family, set in Charlotte, North Carolina.
David Alan Grier was Joe Carmichael: a traditional, opinionated, and stubborn father figure who often foiled the more progressive viewpoints of other family members, particularly Jerrod and Bobby. The dynamic between Joe and his family members led to humorous and insightful exchanges, which allowed the show to tackle contemporary issues related to race, gender, politics, and mental health.
The Cool Kids: Hank Henderson
The Cool Kids was an American comedy TV show that aired on Fox in 2018 for a single season before being canceled. It was set in a retirement community, with the narrative revolving around a group of friends navigating their old age with humor and zest.
Hank Henderson, one of the main characters and portrayed by David Alan Grier, is a gruff, opinionated, and bad-tempered retiree with a good heart hidden under the rough exterior. He’s one of the “cool kids” in the retirement home, along with his two friends, whose humor and misadventures are central to the show.
Bonus: The American Society of Magical Negroes — Unknown Role
The American Society of Magical Negroes is an upcoming American satirical fantasy comedy film by Kobi Libii, starring Justice Smith as the protagonist. The movie is a satirical take on the Magical Negro trope: the Black character who appears with wisdom and mysticism, usually to benefit a white character before disappearing. The protagonist of this anticipated film is recruited into a magical society of African Americans to follow their lifelong cause: to make the lives of white people easier.
Unfortunately, we don’t know anything about David Alan Grier’s role in the upcoming movie apart from the fact that he’s in it. The movie is scheduled to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024, with a theatrical release scheduled for March 22, 2024.
Regardless of whatever role he might take in the upcoming movie, we have very little doubt that it will be nothing short of fantastic. Considering that David Alan Grier has consistently demonstrated his comedic genius and acting prowess from the earliest days of his career on Broadway to his film and television performances, we would expect nothing less.