From a young age, Pierce developed an intense interest in playing the piano. His introduction to the world of performing came from playing the organ in his local Bethesda Episcopal Church. However, acting also came into his life fairly early on. By high school he was performing in plays, and he even earned the prestigious Yaddo Medal for Best Dramatic Art student.

Pierce now had a choice between music and acting. Ultimately, his love for music drove him to put acting on the backburner and attend Yale University to study classical piano.

But it wasn’t long before music history classes and a staggering practice schedule dimmed Pierce’s interest in music. Changing gears slightly, he still graduated from Yale in 1981, but he emerged with a double major in English and theatre arts.

Determined to pursue his latent love of acting, Pierce relocated to New York City, but unfortunately, work was slow for an unknown face and name. He was forced to work a variety of jobs, including selling ties at Bloomingdales and serving as a security guard. In his spare time, he continued to find work within theater and film.

This persisted throughout the 80s and even into the early 90s; one notable film appearance included a bit role in the 1988 film Bright Lights, Big City with Michael J Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, Phoebe Cates, Diane Wiest, and Swoosie Kurtz. He even earned a role in the quirky, offbeat romantic comedy Crossing Delancey in 1988.

But a large break would come for Pierce when a fellow Yale graduate put together her directorial project; Jodie Foster remembered Pierce from a Yale play, and cast him in her new film Little Man Tate. Pierce gained even more exposure to seasoned actors like Foster, Wiest, and Harry Connick Jr. This film was a segue into another supporting part in The Fisher King in 1991, opposite Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, Kathy Najimy, and Harry Shearer.

He earned some stability with a nineteen-episode stint on The Powers That Be, but the show was cancelled to the shock of Pierce. Luckily, he didn’t let it set him back too long and he soon found himself cast alongside Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman, Rosie O'Donnell, Rita Wilson, and Rob Reiner in Sleepless in Seattle (1993).

This same year he auditioned for a supporting role in a new sitcom called Frasier. Casting directors noted the resemblance to Kelsey Grammer, and after an audition wrote the part specifically with him in mind. For his role as Niles Crane, he earned Best Supporting Emmy nominations an astounding and record-setting eleven years in a row and won the award in 1995, 1998, 1999, and 2004. Co-stars of the wildly successful show include John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin, and Jane Leeves.

With a particularly distinctive voice, Pierce has also established a successful voice career. His talents can be heard in A Bug’s Life with Dave Foley, Hayden Panettiere, Bonnie Hunt, and Brad Garrett. He can also be heard in Osmosis Jones with Chris Rock, Laurence Fishburne, Ron Howard, and Brandy Norwood, and he even appeared on one episode of The Simpsons as Sideshow Bob’s brother Cecil.

Pierce currently lives in Los Angeles and owns two Wheaten Terriers. He continues to work, but stays mainly with smaller productions and live theater.

YUDDY