Birth Place: USA
In a career that was launched in the early 1950’s, Joel Grey has created indelible stage roles each decade since: as the iconic M.C. in Cabaret (1966, Tony Award), as song and dance man George M. Cohan in George M! (1967, Tony nomination), as Charley VII in Goodtime Charlie (1975, Tony nomination), as Jacobowsky in The Grand Tour (1979, Tony nomination), as Olim in New York City Opera’s Silverlake (1981), as Amos Hart in the landmark revival of Chicago (1996), and as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in Wicked (2004).
Joel’s non-musical stage roles include John Guare’s Marco Polo Sings a Solo (1975) at the Public Theatre; the title role in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of Chekhov’s Platonov (1978); Larry Kramer’s seminal The Normal Heart (1986) at the Public Theatre; the American Repertory Theatre’s production of Ibsen’s When We Dead Awaken (1991) at the Sao Paulo Biennale, directed by Robert Wilson; Herringbone at the Hartford Stage (1992); John Patrick Shanley’s A Fool and Her Fortune (NY Stage and Film, 1992); and in the Roundabout Theatre production of Brian Friel’s Give Me Your Answer, Do! (1999), for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination. Grey’s film credits include Cabaret (Academy Award), Frank Perry’s Man on A Swing (1974), Robert Altman’s Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976); Herbert Ross’ The Seven Percent Solution (1976); Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985, Golden Globe Nomination); Steven Soderbergh’s Kafka (1991); Altman’s The Player (1992); Phillip Haas’ The Music of Chance (1993); Michael Ritchie’s adaptation of The Fantasticks (2000); Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark (2000) with Bjork and Catherine Deneuve; and Clark Gregg’s Choke, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Joel’s recent television credits include “Alias,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Brooklyn Bridge,” (Emmy Award-nomination), “Oz,” “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” "House," "Brothers & Sisters," "Private Practice," and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
In April 2010, The Paley Center for Media in New York presented “An Evening with Joel Grey,” celebrating Joel’s remarkable, multi-decade career in television. Joel is also an internationally exhibited, acclaimed photographer. He has had three photography books published: Pictures I Had to Take (2003), Looking Hard at Unexamined Things (2006), and 1.3: Images from My Phone (2009). Joel Grey is one of only eight actors to have won both the Tony and Academy award for the same role. In 1984, he was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and has received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is also the recipient of the Distinguished Artist Award from the Los Angeles Music Center. In 1993, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis presented Joel with the Municipal Arts Society medal naming him a Living New York Landmark.
In October 2009, Grey performed at Carnegie Hall, alongside Lady Gaga, Bono, Rufus Wainwright and more to benefit (RED) and help stop AIDS in Africa.
Currently directing Fiddler on the Roof, Grey also, co-directed the Tony-winning Broadway premiere of The Normal Heart in 2011.
Joel is an internationally exhibited photographer with four published books: Pictures I Had to Take (2003), Looking Hard at Unexamined Things (2006), 1.3—Images From My Phone (2009) and The Billboard Papers (2013). His memoir, Master of Ceremonies, was released in 2016 (Flatiron Press).
From: Photo Coverage: HEY, LOOK ME OVER! Takes its Final Bows
From: Photo Flash: CHICAGO to 'Kill It Worldwide' for 20th Anniversary with New Artwork, Costumes and More
Joel Grey, Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish)
Joel Grey, Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish)
Joel Grey, The Normal Heart
Joel Grey, The Normal Heart
Joel Grey, The Normal Heart
Joel Grey , Wicked
Joel Grey, Give Me Your Answer, Do!
Joel Grey, Chicago
Joel Grey, Chicago
Joel Grey Cabaret
Joel Grey, The Grand Tour
Joel Grey, The Grand Tour
Joel Grey, Goodtime Charley
Joel Grey, Goodtime Charley
Joel Grey, George M!
Joel Grey, George M!
Joel Grey, Cabaret
See who was nominated for Chita Rivera Awards! Check out the full list and learn more about the awards.
Birdland welcomed back Tony winning singer/actress Alice Ripley and Grammy/Emmy winning musical director/pianist John McDaniel, who performed in concert at the historic music room on Monday, April 22. Check out photos from the special night here!
Willkommen, bienvenue, and welcome to Center Repertory Company's 2023-24 season finale, the Tony Award-winning musical Cabaret.
Multi-Award winning actress Bernadette Peters will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Chita Rivera Awards. It was also announced that Tony, Oscar, and Golden Globe Award Winner Joel Grey will present Bernadette with her Award. The 2024 Chita Rivera Awards will take place on Monday, May 20 at 7:30pm at The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place).
Tune in to see Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin on TODAY with Hoda and Jenna this week! On Friday April 26, the Cabaret stars will be on TODAY to talk the new production, which is currently running at the August Wilson Theatre. The program airs 10:00-11:00 a.m. EDT on NBC.
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club opened tonight at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. Check out what the critics had to say here!
Tune in to see Eddie Redmayne on Good Morning America next week! On Thursday April 25, the Cabaret star will be on GMA to talk the new production, which is currently in previews. In Cabaret, he plays 'The Emcee', a role played by Joel Grey in the 1966 and 1987 Broadway productions. At this time, it is unknown if he will be performing a number from the show.
This Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20, get lost in the powerful voice of STORM LARGE as she takes the stage at Feinstein's inside The Hotel Carmichael in Carmel.
The month of April offers a variety of entertainment opportunities for fans from 1 to 100 and everywhere in between. Check out all the activities coming to Feinstein's at The Hotel Carmichael this month.
On Thursday, April 11, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club celebrated Broadway legend Joel Grey’s 92nd birthday on stage at the August Wilson Theatre. See photos here!
Last night, the company of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club Broadway legend Joel Grey’s 92nd birthday on stage at the August Wilson Theatre. See photos of the show's Academy and Tony-winning star with the production's stars, Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin.
Last night, the company of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club wilkommened some very special guests to their immersive nightclub home! Eddie Redmayne currently in previews as the ‘Emcee’ in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club celebrated Broadway legend Joel Grey’s 92nd birthday on stage at the August Wilson Theatre.
The Cherry Orchard Festival will present the New York premiere of ADDRESS UNKOWN, a playstarring pianist Evgeny Kissin and baritone Thomas Hampson in acting-only roles, based on the anti-fascist novel by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor banned in 1930s Germany.
In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920's draw to a close, a garish MC welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. With the Emcee's bawdy songs as wry commentary, Cabaret explores the dark, heady, and tumultuous life of Berlin's natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich.
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 11, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
54 BELOW will present a special edition of Backstage Babble Live celebrating the iconic wall of Broadway flop posters at Joe Allen Restaurant. Learn how to purchase tickets.
BIRDLAND THEATER will present rising actress and vocalist Ava Paris Locknar in “Tall Girl Singing' this month. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.
Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this April with a full slate of nightly performances! See who is performing and learn how to purchase tickets.
Feinstein's has revealed the full lineup for April. See who is performing and learn how to purchase tickets.
Joel Grey has appeared on Broadway in 13 shows.
Joel Grey has not appeared in the West End.
Joel Grey has been nominated for various awards throughout his career. These include Outstanding Director of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Fiddler on the Roof" (in Yiddish), Best Direction of a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards for "The Normal Heart," Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Wicked," and many more. Grey has also received nominations for his performances in productions such as "Chicago," "Cabaret," "Goodtime Charley," and "George M!" among others.
Joel Grey has won several awards throughout his career, including Best Direction of a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards for "The Normal Heart," Outstanding Director of a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Normal Heart," Outstanding Featured Actor - Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "Give Me Your Answer, Do!," Best Featured Actor - Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Chicago," Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "Chicago," Best Performance at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "George M!," and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Cabaret."
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