David Alan Grier’s illustrious and varied career began with big dreams from a youth sitting in front of a television in Michigan and absorbing classic film. Grier next stars in The American Society of Magical Negroes, a sharp satirical comedy fable written and directed by Kobi Libii. He began his career on the stage, playing Brooklyn Dodgers color barrier-breaking second baseman Jackie Robinson in The First. After that Tony-nominated performance, he was part of the ensemble of A Soldier’s Play and the movie transfer A Soldier’s Story. He played James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls, and then his career took a decided turn toward comedy. After first working with Keenen Ivory Wayans in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Wayans invited him to join the cast he was putting together for the edgy Fox comedy series In Living Color.
Here, Grier explains how his movie influences helped his career path, and shares stories about those In Living Color days, which propelled him and castmates like Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans to stardom.