Three-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer is the first actor in television history to receive NINE Emmy nominations for his performance in the same role on three series - he received two nominations for his original portrayal of Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers, another for his guest appearance in the role on NBC's Wings and six consecutive nominations - which earned him three awards (two consecutive) as Outstanding Actor - for his work on Frasier.

Grammer was born on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and was raised by his mother and grandfather, first in New Jersey, and then in Florida.

After the death of his grandfather, the 11-year-old Grammer was drawn to the works of William Shakespeare, which fostered his love of the English language.

His first acting performance was in a high school production of The Little Foxes, and with the encouragement of his English and drama teachers, he decided to pursue acting as a career.

After two years at the Juilliard School, he was accepted by the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, where he spent three years performing in classic works by Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. He later performed in regional theatres across the United States-including the Guthrie in Minneapolis-before appearing in the off-Broadway productions of Plenty, Sunday in the Park with George, A Month in the Country and the Obie Award-winning Quartermaine's Terms.

His Broadway credits include Macbeth and Othello, and one of his most recent stage appearance was in the title role of a production of Richard II at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

Grammer was also seen in the Writer's Block, in which he stars as a cynical, down-on-his-luck detective novelist who decides to take a turn at writing children's books to make ends meet.

Grammer made his feature-film debut in the 1996 comedy Down Periscope.

Grammer's television credits include roles on the daytime dramas Another World, One Life to Live and Guiding Light. He also made a guest appearance in the premiere episode of Kate & Allie and had parts in the miniseries Kennedy and the NBC movies London Suite, Dance 'til Dawn, Beyond Suspicion and The Innocent, although perhaps the biggest and most prestigious part he has played is that of Krusty's evil assistant Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons, where he has tried to kill Bart Simpson several times. He also hosted an hour-long salute to Jack Benny for NBC. More recently, he hosted the 1998 Grammy Awards and starred in the cable television movie Pentagon Wars.

Grammer, who joined Cheers in 1984, has received a Golden Globe Award, an American Comedy Award and a People's Choice Award in addition to his Emmy Awards. His autobiography, "So Far ...", was published in the autumn (fall :-) ) of 1995.

Grammer and his wife live in the Los Angeles area with his parrot and five dogs. He enjoys singing, playing piano, golf, tennis, darts and billiards, and sailing on his 37-foot boat.

His birthday is February 21.