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Joel Grey

Also Credited As: Joel Katz

Birth Place: USA

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BIO

Joel Grey (born Joel David Katz; April 11, 1932) is an American actor, singer, dancer, photographer, and theatre director. He is best known for portraying the Master of Ceremonies in the musical Cabaret on Broadway and in Bob Fosse's 1972 film adaptation. He has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award. He earned the Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 2023.



Grey's Tony-nominated roles include for the musical George M! (1968), Goodtime Charley (1975), and The Grand Tour (1979). After portraying Amos Hart in the Broadway revival of Chicago (1996), he originated the role of the Wizard of Oz in the musical Wicked (2003) and played Moonface Martin in the 2011 revival of Anything Goes. He directed the 2011 revival of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play.

He earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture nomination for his role in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985). His other film roles include in Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976), Kafka (1991), The Music of Chance (1993), The Fantasticks (2000), and Dancer in the Dark (2000). He earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Brooklyn Bridge (1993). He also acted in Oz (2003), Alias (2005), House (2006), Nurse Jackie (2011), and The Old Man (2022).

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

The Cherry Orchard The Cherry Orchard
[Broadway]
Roundabout Theatre Company Broadway Revival, 2016
Firs
Anything Goes Anything Goes
[Broadway]
Roundabout Revival, 2011
Moonface Martin
Wicked Wicked
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2003
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Give Me Your Answer, Do!
[Off-Broadway]
1999
Jack Donovan
Chicago
[US Tour]
2nd National Tour, 1997
Amos Hart [Replacement]
Chicago Chicago
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1996
Amos Hart
Chicago
[Off-Broadway]
Encores! Concert, 1996
Amos Hart
Cabaret
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1987
Master of Ceremonies
The Emcee (Master of Ceremonies)
The Normal Heart
[Off-Broadway]
1985
Ned Weeks [Replacement]
The Grand Tour
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1979
S. L. Jacobowsky
Marco Polo Sings a Solo
[Off-Broadway]
1977
Stony McBride
Goodtime Charley
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1975
Charley
George M!
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1968
George M. Cohan
Cabaret
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1966
Master of Ceremonies
Half a Sixpence
[Broadway]
Broadway Production, 1965
Arthur Kipps [Replacement]
Stop the World - I Want to Get Off
[US Tour]
National Tour, 1963
Littlechap
Stop the World - I Want to Get Off
[Broadway]
Broadway Production, 1962
Littlechap [Replacement]
Come Blow Your Horn
[Broadway]
1961
Buddy Baker [Replacement]
Joy Ride
[Broadway]
Closed on the road, 1958
Performer
The Littlest Revue
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1956
Performer
The Littlest Revue
[Off-Broadway]
1956
Performer
Silverlake
[Off-Broadway]
Return Engagement [NYCO Revival], 1980
Performer

Productions

Fiddler On The RoofFiddler On The Roof
 
[Off-Broadway, 2022]
Director
Fiddler on the RoofFiddler on the Roof
 
[Off-Broadway, 2019]
Director
Fiddler on the RoofFiddler on the Roof
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Director
The Normal HeartThe Normal Heart
 
[Broadway, 2011]
Director

Movies

About Face
[ 1952 ] Bender
Come September
[ 1961 ] Beagle
Man on a Swing
[ 1974 ] Franklin Wills
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
[ 1976 ] Lowenstein
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
[ 1976 ] The Producer Nate Salisbury
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
[ 1985 ] Chiun
Kafka
[ 1991 ] Burgel
The Player
[ 1992 ] Joel Grey
The Music of Chance
[ 1993 ] Willy Stone
The Dangerous
[ 1995 ] Flea
The Empty Mirror
[ 1996 ] Josef Goebbels
My Friend Joe
[ 1996 ] Simon
The Fantasticks
[ 2000 ] Bellomy
Dancer in the Dark
[ 2000 ] Oldrich Novy
Reaching Normal
[ 2001 ] Dr. Mensley
Wicked
[ 2003 ] The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Choke
[ 2008 ] Phil
A. Hitler
[ 2010 ] Joseph Goebbels
tick, tick... BOOM!
[ 2021 ] Sunday Legend #4

TV Shows

Brooklyn Bridge
Jacob Prossman
The Outer Limits
Gideon Banks, Dr. Nathan Seward
The Old Man
[ 2022-2024 ] Morgan Bote

Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2019 - Outstanding Director of a Musical

Joel Grey, Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish)

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2019 - Outstanding Director of a Musical

Joel Grey, Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish)


winner
BroadwayWorld Awards - 2011 - Best Direction of a Play

Joel Grey, The Normal Heart


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2011 - Outstanding Director of a Play

Joel Grey, The Normal Heart

Tony Awards - 2011 - Best Direction of a Play

Joel Grey, The Normal Heart

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2004 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Joel Grey , Wicked


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1999 - Outstanding Featured Actor - Play

Joel Grey, Give Me Your Answer, Do!


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1997 - Best Featured Actor - Musical

Joel Grey, Chicago


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1996 - Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical

Joel Grey, Chicago

Helen Hayes Awards - 1988 - Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production

Joel Grey Cabaret

Drama Desk Awards - 1979 - Outstanding Actor - Musical

Joel Grey, The Grand Tour

Tony Awards - 1979 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Joel Grey, The Grand Tour

Drama Desk Awards - 1975 - Outstanding Actor - Musical

Joel Grey, Goodtime Charley

Tony Awards - 1975 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Joel Grey, Goodtime Charley

Tony Awards - 1969 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Joel Grey, George M!


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1968 - Best Performance

Joel Grey, George M!


winner
Tony Awards - 1967 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Joel Grey, Cabaret

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Joel Grey been in?

Joel Grey has appeared on Broadway in 13 shows.

How many West End shows has Joel Grey been in?

Joel Grey has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Joel Grey been nominated for?

Outstanding Director of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish), Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish), Best Direction of a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for The Normal Heart, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Normal Heart, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Normal Heart, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Wicked, Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Give Me Your Answer, Do!, Best Featured Actor - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Chicago , Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Chicago, Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Cabaret, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Grand Tour, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Grand Tour, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Goodtime Charley, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Goodtime Charley, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for George M!, Best Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for George M! and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Cabaret.

What awards has Joel Grey won?

Joel Grey has won the following awards: Best Direction of a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for The Normal Heart; Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Normal Heart; Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Give Me Your Answer, Do!; Best Featured Actor - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Chicago; Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Chicago; Best Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for George M!; and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Cabaret.

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